Concerns Rise Over New Housing Law in Canarias Amidst Housing Crisis

The recent approval of a new housing regulation in the Canary Islands has sparked significant concern among local political groups.

Opposition to the New Regulation

Podemos Canarias has voiced strong objections to the Sustainable Regulation of the Tourist Use of Housing Law, which is set to take effect following its official publication. The party argues that this law will worsen the ongoing housing crisis in the region, allowing holiday rentals to further displace residents from the housing market. Additionally, it shifts the administrative responsibilities onto local councils that lack the necessary resources to manage these changes effectively.

Implications of the Law

This legislation, supported by a coalition of parties including CC, PP, ASG, and AHI, is marketed as a balanced approach to housing regulation. However, critics contend that it legitimizes a speculative tourism model. The law increases the maximum percentage of residential land designated for holiday homes from 5% to 10%, and even up to 20% in designated green areas. This change effectively doubles the number of licenses available and secures existing properties for five years, even in areas already saturated with holiday rentals.

The rapid growth of holiday housing in the Canary Islands has reached alarming levels, with official data from 2025 indicating a total capacity of 319,568 places in holiday homes. This figure is alarmingly close to the traditional accommodation sector’s capacity of 368,363 hotel places. The unchecked expansion of holiday rentals has raised concerns about the sustainability of the housing market.

Challenges Faced by Local Authorities

Podemos Canarias highlights the issue of illegal holiday rentals, with the Ministry of Housing identifying 8,698 properties operating outside of regulations, amounting to over 36,000 unauthorized places. While the overall statistics for the archipelago may obscure the severity of the situation, certain islands such as La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro are experiencing a crisis where holiday housing dominates the market, with El Hierro seeing an alarming 74% of its total places designated for holiday rentals.

Urban areas are not immune to this trend. In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the number of holiday rental places has surpassed that of hotel accommodations, with 9,778 holiday rentals compared to just 6,413 hotel places. This situation exacerbates the challenges residents face in accessing housing, illustrating the saturation of the current system.

With over 70,000 registered holiday homes in the Canary Islands, and estimates suggesting the actual number could be double, the situation is critical. In Gran Canaria alone, there are more than 5,000 active holiday rentals. Critics argue that the newly approved law arrives too late and merely legitimizes the existing chaos.

Podemos Canarias asserts that the law transfers responsibilities that should belong to the government to local councils, which are now tasked with inspecting, planning, and regulating holiday rentals without adequate support. Smaller municipalities, particularly those in less populated areas, may struggle to manage these responsibilities effectively, while larger municipalities like Adeje and San Bartolomé de Tirajana will likely face community conflicts without the necessary tools to address them.

The party emphasizes that the law is impractical and perpetuates an unfair and unsustainable housing model. It favors investment funds while placing local councils in a position of managing social unrest, despite these responsibilities not being theirs. Local councils lack the personnel and resources to fulfill the required inspection plans, which should fall under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Canary Islands. Podemos advocates for a ban on holiday rentals, arguing that homes should serve as places for living rather than as commodities.

Key points

• Podemos Canarias opposes the Sustainable Regulation of the Tourist Use of Housing Law.
• The law is expected to worsen the housing crisis by allowing more holiday rentals.
• It increases the maximum percentage of residential land for holiday homes from 5% to 10%.
• There are over 70,000 registered holiday homes in the Canary Islands, with estimates suggesting the actual number could be double.
• Local councils are tasked with regulating holiday rentals without adequate resources.
• Illegal holiday rentals account for over 36,000 places identified by the Ministry of Housing.
• Podemos advocates for a ban on holiday rentals to protect housing for residents.