SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 25 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Minister of Tourism and Employment for the Canary Islands Government, Jessica De León (PP), has dismissed the possibility of introducing a moratorium on holiday rentals due to the impending processing of the new regional legislation and because, “de facto”, it empowers local councils to suspend responsible declarations.
Responding to an inquiry from the Socialist Group, she stated that even if the measure were to be pursued, it is no longer “timely” as the drafting of the legislation is in its “final stage”, awaiting assessments from the Intermunicipal Cooperation and Insular Cooperation Councils, as well as the Advisory Council.
She also noted that local councils possess “greater legal assurances” by employing their own planning to “suspend licenses”, in addition to the Government’s intent not to “override the preferences” of some, particularly in the midlands, where it is believed that holiday homes “are here to stay” due to their capacity to “stimulate” economic advancement.
Furthermore, she highlighted that the ‘green islands’ – La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro – have distanced themselves from the stance of the four tourist islands, which favour implementing a moratorium. “We fail to see why a moratorium should be approved for the entirety of the Canary Islands,” she stated.
The councillor has reiterated that the forthcoming legislation already incorporates provisions to “halt” this modality, emphasising the phrase “not one more without planning”, which will facilitate the “classification” of properties and the “distinction between what is legal today and what is illegal that cannot be made legal.”
She is also confident that the new legislation will be “efficient and effective” as it provides both town councils and local administrations a four-year timeframe “to address the chaos and disarray currently present in this sector.”
Patricia Hernández (PSOE) reminded that Parliament has rejected the introduction of a moratorium on two occasions, firstly within the Canary Islands and subsequently among the tourist islands, despite the “call effect” triggered by the announcement of the new law.
However, the Fecai, comprising presidents from “various political backgrounds”, has already requested a moratorium in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote, while the president of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, “referred to a flood and avalanche” and also mentioned the “lack of resources” to “establish order”.
The socialist MP noted that holiday rentals “affect” residents’ ability to access housing, prompting her to advocate for “consensus” regarding the new law, with a Parliament that has its “deadlines” for processing so that it proves “effective and efficient”. “It is going to spiral out of control,” she cautioned.
