The state of the rental market in Tenerife is marked by incessant price hikes and the surge in holiday accommodations, Both circumstances are significantly impacting the locals who rely on renting, unable to meet the monthly payment for a dwelling. It has become increasingly common to come across cramped flats or residences in very subpar conditions at rates exceeding 400 euros. The average rental cost per square meter in Santa Cruz is 10.79 euros monthly.
This situation often paints property owners as wealthy individuals engaging in apartment speculation for maximum gains, a representation that is not always accurate. An example of this is the plight of Luis Javier, a Tenerife resident who revealed in an interview with COLE’s microphones that his tenant hasn’t paid rent for months and owes him 16,000 euros.
Luis Javier rented his Las Chafiras apartment for 430 euros to a woman, who hasn’t paid rent for several months. Faced with this, the owner took legal action, which ruled in his favor, granting approval to evict and terminate the rental agreement. Despite the judicial green light for eviction, it couldn’t be executed as the tenant invoked the solidarity of the San Miguel City Council during her pregnancy and successfully halted the eviction.
“I feel helpless; I’m also vulnerable because I have a child, support payments, mortgage, electricity bills, school fees, car expenses, and struggle to make ends meet,” lamented Luis Javier on the radio.
“Who reimburses me if the tenant doesn’t?” reflected the protagonist, expressing regret for renting his property. “I’m residing in my 93-year-old mother’s house; it’s my sole residence. I’ve separated and had to move in with her,” he sorrowfully stated. “I keep working to afford that house,” he added.
“I’d rather not rent my house anymore”
The current predicament has led Luis Javier to reconsider renting his property: “How can I rent my house to someone potentially working in the South with an income of a few thousand euros?” he questioned, apprehensive of a recurrence of similar circumstances. “I’m inclined not to rent it. I’d rather relocate to the South; it’s more financially viable for me to commute from the south to work in Santa Cruz than dealing with the expenses of renting,” he disclosed.
