The mayor of Adeje, José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, has elaborated that the City Council is considering more actions beyond requesting the Government of the Canary Islands to label the municipality as a stressed area. He considers this move a temporary solution that won’t fully resolve the issue of lack of housing.
Rodríguez Fraga highlighted the fact that Adeje is facing “a critical problem” in the housing sector. One of the approaches being explored to alleviate this situation is the potential designation of a stressed area. This designation could facilitate the regulation of rental prices and incentivize property owners to bring more housing onto the market by providing tax benefits.
However, he emphasised that they recognise this as a short-term measure that alone will not provide a lasting solution. Thus, the municipality is actively working on implementing additional measures to address the root of the problem.
Among the strategies under consideration are freeing up land for construction, creating affordable housing, and encouraging private investments in such developments to make housing more accessible to the working population at reasonable rates.
Another proposed solution mentioned by the mayor is the implementation of social housing initiatives for families facing significant challenges.
Rodríguez Fraga pointed out that Adeje has already undertaken various initiatives and accumulated experience in this area, citing the successful creation of over 1,000 homes through similar processes. Hence, there is a strong determination to take the lead in addressing these challenges at the local level.
The Canarian Government Questions the Efficacy of the Move
The governmental position of the Canary Islands diverges from Adeje’s planned approach, with officials believing that their existing housing strategies, particularly the urgent measures decree law and the forthcoming holiday housing law, are more effective than designating stressed areas.
Alfonso Cabello, the spokesperson for the Canary Islands executive, expressed these views in response to the Adeje City Council’s proposal to seek such a declaration at the next municipal session.
Cabello stated that the government will review requests from municipalities judiciously, without confirming whether Adeje’s motion will be merely symbolic or if there will be substantive demands based on land and housing legislations.
While acknowledging the rental pricing concerns in specific areas like Adeje and San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Cabello emphasised that the government’s focused legislation, such as the urgent measures decree and the future holiday housing law, aims to address the issue comprehensively.
He further clarified that their approach is to drive more legislative interventions to tackle the housing crisis effectively and expressed a commitment to collaborate with municipal authorities to stabilise the market in the coming months.
