A New Era for Vacation Rentals in the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands Parliament approved a new law this Wednesday to regulate vacation rentals across the archipelago. Spearheaded by the Minister of Tourism, Jessica de León (PP), the legislation received backing from the governing four-party coalition—Canarian Coalition, Popular Party, Gomera Socialist Group, and Independent Herrenian Group. The initiative passed despite opposition from the PSOE, New Canaries-Canarian Bloc, and Vox, who also blocked the debate of 24 last-minute ‘viva voce’ amendments presented during the plenary session.
Government Defends a Difficult but Necessary Law
Minister Jessica de León acknowledged that it has been a law “difficult to explain and to manage,” but she praised the effort of the Government and the supporting groups for making it possible, stating they acted “in the service of the general interest and refused to be hostages of political tactics.” She also expressed gratitude for the support of President Fernando Clavijo and Vice President Manuel Domínguez, emphasizing that “without them, this regulation would not have been possible.”
Strong Opposition Voices Concerns
The opposition’s criticism was forceful. Esther González (NC-bc) accused the government of approving “a law without consensus, which benefits large tourism businesses and harms Canarian families.” She claimed the text “opens the door to the expulsion of thousands of families from tourist zones,” and reproached the government for rejecting all 34 amendments proposed by her group.
In a similar vein, Gustavo Santana (PSOE) stated that the law “does not consider residents or the general interest,” pointing out that since September 2023, “more than 32,000 new vacation homes” have been registered due to what he called a “call effect.” For the Socialists, the regulation “favors large property holders” and “forces neighbors out of their neighborhoods.” Santana proposed limiting the number of properties per owner to three, a measure he said would “protect the small landlord.”
Meanwhile, Paula Jover (Vox) described the law as “chameleonic and poorly drafted,” arguing that it “does not solve the problems and places too many burdens on owners and town councils.”
Governing Coalition Highlights Order and Local Control
From the government bloc, the PP defended the law, stating it “puts an end to pseudo-hotels” and offers “legal security and autonomy to town councils,” which will now be responsible for determining “where, how, and how many vacation homes” are permitted in their municipalities.
The Canarian Coalition deputy, Socorro Beato, stressed that the text “organizes, protects, and balances,” in addition to “simplifying procedures and reinforcing the role of the island councils (cabildos) and town councils.” Beato emphasized that “the law does not prohibit vacation rentals, but regulates them with common sense,” guaranteeing neighborhood coexistence and tourism sustainability.
Furthermore, Jesús Ramos (ASG) defended the need to provide “legal protection for an activity that generates future prospects on the greener islands” and requested that the rejected amendments could be introduced “via decree as soon as possible.”
Finally, Raúl Acosta (AHI) acknowledged that the regulation “is not perfect, but much better than when it entered the Chamber,” as it “brings order without punishing” and allows the rules to be adapted to the particularities of each island.
A Landmark Legal Framework for the Archipelago
With this approval, the Canary Islands now have, for the first time, a specific legal framework for vacation rentals. This framework seeks to balance the right to housing with the sustainability of tourism, one of the archipelago’s main economic engines. Despite the political disagreements, the debate made it clear that vacation rentals will remain a central pillar of the islands’ economic and social model, with a regulation that promises to continue generating discussion in the coming months.
