A Tenerife local council has agreed via unanimous vote to start the process of regulating holiday rentals as the growing housing crisis on the Canary Island shows no sign of relenting.
The Adeje Council’s decision is based on a proposal by Gabriel González, councillor for Podemos-IU, where he highlighted the sharp contrast between the region’s thriving tourism sector and the challenges faced by local residents.
The Canary Islands have seen unprecedented growth in tourism, having been visited by over 16 million visitors in 2023, achieving record-breaking revenues in hospitality.
“However, this prosperity contrasts sharply with low incomes, poverty, and social exclusion affecting many residents,” González explained.
According to data from the Tenerife Cabildo, Adeje currently has approximately 4,800 licenced holiday rental properties. However, about a quarter remain empty or inactive in tourism.
González pointed out that this trend has displaced an estimated 10,000 local residents due to the pressure on the housing market.
The new proposal includes exploring the creation of a municipal ordinance to regulate holiday lets, drawing inspiration from Granadilla de Abona, a neighbouring municipality.
Granadilla recently implemented measures to protect local families’ access to housing, including limiting holiday rental activities to specific property types, such as ground-floor units, apartments with independent access, and standalone homes.
The proposed regulations for Adeje prioritise preserving social housing and properties deemed outside traditional planning rules, ensuring they remain available for residential use rather than tourism.
Adeje’s mayor, José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga (PSOE), emphasized the need for a balanced approach. “Holiday rentals are here to stay, but we need time to establish appropriate regulations,” he said.
Manuel Luis Méndez, Councillor for Territorial Planning, highlighted that in 2018, only 211 of the 4,746 holiday rental properties advertised online were officially registered, including controversial Airbnbs.
While current registrations now surpass the number of active rentals, Méndez highlighted the ongoing lack of regulation due to the new Housing Law, which leaves landlords vulnerable to squatters when transitioning properties to long-term rentals.
Between 2000 and 2011, Adeje experienced a population increase of 11,000 residents, leading to the construction of 1,000 social housing units. To alleviate further housing pressures, the municipality has recently allocated two plots of land for the development of new social housing with affordable rents.
This dual strategy – regulating holiday rentals and increasing affordable housing – is intended to address the pressing issue of housing availability in Adeje while maintaining the economic benefits brought by tourism.
In October, thousands took to the streets in simultaneous protests in Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and El Hierro as residents voiced their frustration with soaring housing costs they blame on high numbers of foreign visitors and holiday lets. They were the biggest protests on the islands since a large-scale demonstration on April 20.
The marches prompted the Foreign Office (FCDO) to issue a warning to British tourists – who make up the largest group heading to the archipelago – over the risk of “unrest and violence” breaking out during the protests.