Aged 29 and with a steady job. A dream for many young people in Canarias, a reality for Pablo, a fictional name for the individual in question. Despite this, he cannot afford accommodation in the south of Tenerife. In December, he started working in Adeje for a well-known transport company. Since then, he has been living in the caravan that his father lent him as an alternative until he can secure, at the very least, a room close to the area.
The search began in October. First, through online portals like Milanuncios or Idealista and then, visiting those that best suited his needs. Any option was acceptable, from a complete studio apartment to a single room. He claims that “the only two or three properties I could have seen for less than 900 euros disappeared quickly”. There was no way to find anything affordable.
“The caravan is a tax,” he admits. It is located in a camping site and has a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, albeit all very small and integrated. Yet, he acknowledges that it is adapted and his main issue is the water limitation, as he has to refill with jerrycans when it runs out. “People tell me I’m crazy, but the reality is that if I could find myself a flat, I would,” he explains. Due to his work schedule, it is also difficult for him to use public transport.
A Joke Gaining Strength after Months of Searching
The idea of living in the caravan started as a joke. In October, he mentioned it to his father jokingly. As the start date approached, he remembers his increasing stress and how the option was gaining strength. The other alternative was to commute daily from La Laguna, his usual place of residence. His father was not convinced by that option, and it was then that he proposed the caravan: “He convinced me when he said it would be better to stay there than to come to work every day because I would end up very tired.” His job involves driving for eight hours, adding the commute, he would spend around ten hours on the road each day.
The main obstacles he encountered when searching for accommodation were the temporary nature, high demands, and increasing prices. At times, he recalls, landlords were looking for specific professions like teachers, who often come for a short period of time, or healthcare workers, with financial stability.
Properties Increasing in Price due to High Demand
The young man encountered unfair conditions such as the obligation to pay in full for a rental default insurance that would benefit the landlord in case the tenant stopped paying the rent. “There were contracts where they demanded that I bear 70% of the cost of utilities just for a room in a shared flat,” he emphasizes.
He also discovered that after showing interest, the prices of several properties increased compared to the original figure in the advertisement. According to Pablo, the increase was justified by the high demand. He points out that “they tested the market, and when I visited the flat, they had raised it by 200 euros.” However, he stresses that since leaving the viewing, the property was rented out. Many people did not even visit in person, they trusted the photos and accepted.
“People tell me I’m crazy. The reality is that if I could find myself a flat, I would.”
His maximum budget was €600 for a complete home, “€700 to be realistic,” he admits. His goal was to apply for the Young Rental Bonus, an aid from the Government of Canarias for those under 35 years old. The subsidy could cover up to 60% of the monthly rent. However, one of Pablo’s main complaints is the posteriori payment, as the payment is made quarterly on a periodic basis.
Increasing Number of Foreign Property Owners
The leader of the Canarian Association of Real Estate Management Companies (ACEGI), Rafael Tarajano, emphasizes the importance of foreign demand, especially from the British. As he states, “they see the Archipelago as a highly attractive region.”
Although he argues that foreign investment is “significant and necessary” and that it usually does not take place in neighbourhoods, the reality is that the Canarian population struggles to compete with their economic level when it comes to acquiring a property in areas like the south.
A friend of Pablo mentioned a flat for 600 euros these days. “I might take it or maybe not, it’s not clear yet. I have to look into it and think about it over this weekend,” he concludes. Any young person working in the south and living elsewhere on the island may find themselves in a situation similar to his. Areas like Los Cristianos and La Tejita house a large number of the caravans in Tenerife. The reasons for their stay vary, some have opted for extended vacations, or, like him, out of preference or necessity have turned the vehicle into their home on wheels.
