Tenerife proposes a temporary halt on licenses, PSOE and NC-BC call for a moratorium, while the ‘green islands’ accept tourist accommodation
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 6th February (Europa Press) –
The Canarian councils expressed some scepticism on Thursday regarding the Vacation Rental Law that has been submitted to Parliament. While they have shown support for its regulation, they emphasise the need for “sensitivity” in order for their proposals to be considered and to achieve territorial balance.
Nereida Calero, Minister of the Presidency, Territorial Planning, Accessibility, Computer Science and New Technologies of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura, has called for caution regarding the “deadlines” imposed on administrations, insisting that the new law must be “functional and serve a purpose.”
In this context, she remarked that “if the public and all administrations do not buy into it, if there is no sense of ownership and there is resistance, the urgent objectives it aims to achieve will not materialise.”
Meanwhile, the Vice President of the Cabildo de la Gomera, Adasat Reyes, acknowledged the “dialogue” established with the government for crafting the law. He conceded that it is “undeniable” that the holiday rental market hinders residents’ access to housing, particularly in the Capital Islands, although he stated that on the smaller islands, it serves as a supplementary “income” for families.
Consequently, he has urged for “reasonableness and rationality” and indicated that holiday rentals should not be banned through the establishment of unachievable parameters, while also cautioning against the potential adverse aspects of misapplying the law in the green islands.
Jesús Machín, Minister of Territorial Planning, Territorial Policy, Tourist Planning and Classified Activities of the Lanzarote Cabildo, has praised the “resolve” and bravery of the Government in addressing the regulation of vacation rentals.
He called for “balance and consideration” and refrained from condemning tourist homes, as in many municipalities, this income supports the educational costs of young people in Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
He also warned that for municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, compliance with the provisions of the new law could prove “very challenging” due to a lack of technical and human resources.
Tenerife: Supporting the small owner
José Miguel Ruano, second vice president and advisor for the Presidency, Administration, Public Services and Territorial Planning and Historical Heritage, has expressed favour for an Emergency Decree to suspend licenses.
He emphasised that this new regulation represents “a challenge” and understands that it should facilitate “those who simply possess a house to rent it, and those looking to operate through investment funds and other activities must go through the tourism route.”
The Minister of Tourism of the Government of the Canary Islands, Jessica de León, remarked that the law aims to safeguard the “general interest” of the Canaries and ensures the right to suitable housing while also allowing for the “preservation of identity” within local communities.
She acknowledged that the housing market is currently “strained” and that holiday rentals are rising by an average of over 30%, adding that there exists a de facto moratorium as “new licenses cannot be issued until planning frameworks are established.”
The bill has received over 3,300 contributions and prohibits the tourist commercialisation of entire buildings to prevent this practice from expanding in areas already facing pressure.
The spokesperson for the Mixed Group, Raúl Acosta (AHI), mentioned that the government has displayed “great courage” in tackling the new regulation concerning holiday rentals, which he referred to as one of the “significant issues” facing the Ministry of Tourism.
He noted that it cannot be “criminalised” the increase in vacation rentals across the islands and requested nuances tailored to specific neighbourhoods, cities, and islands, stating that in the case of El Hierro, it has enabled the development of tourism. “For El Hierro, it is essential; our economy is very fragile,” he added.
ASG: “unequal” effects across the islands
Melodie Mendoza (ASG) acknowledged the “progress” made by the Ministry but cautioned that the impacts of holiday rentals are “unequal” and must be moderated by region, with particular “sensitivity” for the green islands.
“The key to success will not solely rest on the approval of this law, but in its proper implementation and, most importantly, in the ongoing evaluation of this regulation,” she stated.
Vox spokesman Nicasio Galván blamed public administrations for failing to ensure citizens’ access to housing and criticised the “assaults” from the law on private property, asserting that an owner “is not a malicious speculator.”
“We are referring to the vast majority of these owners. We are not discussing large investment funds; we are speaking of the average Canarian who has an apartment and wishes to rent it, and we must defend that right,” he clarified.
Luis Campos, spokesperson for NC-BC, expressed concern over the Government’s haste in better regulating a tourist sector that “is here to stay,” deeming this regulation “necessary” as holiday renting “dehumanises” neighbourhoods and impacts social cohesion.
“We need to allow enough time to avoid errors in our legislation,” he stressed, while noting that “there is still time” to approve a moratorium.
Juan Manuel García Casañas (PP) remarked that the law will facilitate a “balance” between tourism development and housing access, specifically noting that holiday rentals have become an “economic engine” for El Hierro.
José Miguel Barragán, spokesperson for the nationalist group, linked the regulation of vacation rentals to the “demographic challenge,” questioning why bed spaces in the Canary Islands should be restricted solely to hotels and apartments.
“We need to implement regulations to ensure that this activity can continue, as it is here to stay,” he commented, predicting that tourism will evolve in forthcoming years, leading to increased demand for accommodation in rural areas.
Gustavo Santana, of the Socialist Group, cautioned about the lack of consensus surrounding the new law with organisations such as Fecam, lamenting the “contagion effect” due to the registration of more than 64,000 new tourist homes to date, and reiterated his call for a moratorium.
