The housing dilemma in the southern part of Tenerife Island is posing a significant challenge for residents. With skyrocketing rents, struggles to afford housing, and a lack of suitable accommodation options, the situation has become unsustainable for many. In some cases, people are forced to resort to living in caravans, vans, or inadequate housing, and in extreme situations, they are left with no choice but to bid farewell to the island. One recent example is Carmen García, a resident of Tenerife for the past 29 years, originally hailing from Marbella (Málaga). She is now compelled to leave the island as her landlady abruptly raised her rent by €150 last month, an amount she can no longer afford. This stark reality sends a clear message: “For a hospitality worker, living in the south has become a luxury she can no longer afford.” “This has spiraled out of control,” she laments.
“I arrived in Tenerife in 1995 and initially lived in a garage. The rent was 45,000 pesetas (€270), while my income was nearly 110,000 pesetas (€700). I was already spending almost half of my salary on housing alone. Back then, it was already costly. Fast forward to today, the situation has worsened. I have gone through seven different homes, always paying rent,” she recounts.
García has witnessed the tourism boom in the southern part of Tenerife and attributes it to the hard work of local employees and those who migrated to the Canary Islands in search of opportunities, tirelessly contributing to the region’s success. Similarly, many others who arrived decades ago are now grappling with the impossible housing situation and are being compelled to return to their homelands.
“I am leaving due to circumstances. That is the harsh reality. I am aware of the job opportunities available to me; in fact, I have been offered work. However, the exorbitant prices have left me feeling suffocated. After returning from sick leave due to a foot injury, I was laid off from my previous job and received compensation. But now, everything has become a daunting challenge for me,” she reveals.
Carmen acknowledges that the sudden €150 rent increase imposed by her landlady without prior notice is illegal. “I am aware that I could win a legal battle if I contested it, but I lack the energy and motivation. I have reached my breaking point. I surrender,” she concedes.
The hospitality sector has been Carmen’s main source of livelihood since her arrival in the Canary Islands, but she reflects, “While it has provided me with opportunities, in the end, it has left me with nothing.”
A FRIEND’S SUPPORT
Beatriz Domingo, a longtime friend from Valladolid, who has also resided on the island for nearly three decades, has extended a helping hand to Carmen. Following Carmen’s displacement, Bea has offered her a place to stay until her departure on Monday, the 13th.
Carmen’s story mirrors the experiences of many individuals facing similar challenges over recent years. It is a narrative that is increasingly common and highlights the housing crisis gripping the southern part of the island.
With tears in her eyes and a heavy heart, Carmen recounts her struggles, finding it difficult to narrate her memories of Tenerife without being overcome with emotion. Memories flood her mind, and the pain she endures is palpable in her voice.
She admits to feeling “completely hopeless” and describes her life taking a sudden 180-degree turn, leaving her with an overwhelming sense of emptiness. “During the Covid crisis, many of my colleagues gave up and returned home, but I persisted. Now, at 55 years old, I find myself returning to where I started in search of a new beginning. I am going back to my mother’s house, who is 94 years old. Essentially, I am back to square one. Everything I have built over these years has crumbled abruptly. I am consumed by deep sadness,” she laments.
Despite her deep-rooted connections to “her Islands,” Carmen acknowledges her Málaga roots but feels a profound sense of belonging to the Canarian culture. “I have spent more years here than in Malaga. Whether I intended to or not, I have forged strong bonds,” she acknowledges.
“Politicians should experience the struggles of hospitality workers firsthand one day. Let’s swap roles, and they will quickly grasp the challenges we face,” she challenges. She criticises the leaders of the Canary Islands for their lack of support, feeling “defenceless and abandoned” due to their inadequate efforts to alleviate the housing crisis and stabilise rental prices for residents.
“I am leaving with the certainty that the situation is now worse than it was 30 years ago. Back then, life was simpler, but we lived more comfortably and joyfully. Today, I fear for the future of the islands. Our elderly will retire exhausted, and the younger generation won’t be able to afford homes or move out until they reach their 40s. Everything seems unattainable, with no proactive measures in sight. I am forced to depart, and I know many others facing similar predicaments, but those who remain are oblivious to the impending challenges. Things will only deteriorate, and I am no prophet. This long-standing issue is now a grim reality for us, the older generation,” she concludes.
