In Lanzarote, living in a van or caravan in a parking lot in a tourist area has been an option for some time. As La Voz reported last year, several neighborhoods are growing in tourist environments where workers are forced to live in motorhomes in Lanzarote. In fact, for some it is the only way out, due to the scarcity and high cost of housing on the island.
The latest survey conducted in November by the Lanzarote Data Center, which depends on the Cabildo, reflected that the "main concern" for the inhabitants of this island is housing.
In the last four years, since January 2021, the average sale price has grown by 40% from 1,878 euros to 2,655 euros per square meter, in a situation that affects all types of profiles: from workers to small business owners, to public employees whose salaries are not enough either.
"Put island businessman without accommodation." One of those affected prefers not to disclose his name, but tells Efe that he was born in England and raised in Lanzarote since he was eight years old.
Afterwards, he left with his family, but decided to return last year. Although he has always worked as an entertainer in hotels, he is now 40 years old, so he has set up a party and event company and also works as a DJ. He earns 1,600 euros and cannot find a house. "For less than 1,200 euros there is nothing," he says.
11,000 more tourist housing places in four years
First he spent a whole month in a vacation rental paying 70 euros a day. Then he bought a van and adapted it himself. It has a kitchen, shower, a 140-liter water tank and 400-watt solar panels. He has been living in a parking lot for six months.
Next to that van, he has another, new and larger one, which he uses for work.
"The island is in a bad way and I don't think it's fair that everything goes to vacation rentals," he says. According to the tourist rental survey carried out by the Canary Islands Institute of Statistics, Lanzarote currently has 36,384 tourist places in the vacation rental modality. Four years ago, in January 2021, there were 11,000 less. However, the data from Canarias Datos Abiertos, where they collect the homes registered in the general tourist registry, with 44,234 places as of March 17.
In 2024, the island broke its historical record of tourist arrivals, with just over 3.2 million. On the other hand, the last promotion of social housing that was built in its territory dates back to 1994.
In the parking lot of Los Pocillos beach, in Puerto del Carmen, one of the main tourist areas, there is not a single caravan left. The Tías City Council has placed a sign that prohibits passage "except for cars and motorcycles". There were more than 20 vehicles of these characteristics. The caravans have dispersed but have not left.
In a parking lot in Puerto del Carmen, the questions interrupt the nap of a man who prefers not to say his name. He has been living in his van for nine months, with his dog. He bought it to live there and says he has "everything".
He doesn't want to say much more, but when asked if he lives like this because of the price of housing, he replies: "Undoubtedly".
800 euros a month for a caravan
In Costa Teguise, another of the tourist areas of Lanzarote, there are many more. Antonio has been in the parking lot of Las Cucharas beach for three and a half years. He lives in a Renault Kangoo.
He has a stove where he cooks, which runs on batteries. He had planted a hybrid between a garden and an orchard in a flowerbed, with basil, aromatic herbs, aloe, peppers and tomato plants "that grew on their own". A month ago, the Local Police destroyed it taking advantage of his absence.
Antonio is 64 years old, is a pensioner and was the head of pastry at a well-known hotel on the island. He arrived from Jerez more than 40 years ago. He separated, had depression and has had several suicide attempts. He washes in the pool of a sports center and says he has improved thanks to swimming. "Now I want to live," he says.
He points out that he is not looking for a house because, in any case, he would not be able to pay for it. He says that in that same parking lot there is a young man who works in a hotel and rents a large caravan for 800 euros a month, and also that there are caravans that are rented to tourists, as vacation rentals.
Next to the Aquapark in Costa Teguise there are six more caravans or vans and in the parking lot of the International School there are a long dozen. Ivana arrived there two weeks ago, who is a yoga teacher, but has been in her caravan for three years. She lived in La Santa. "After covid, the landlord raised us from 350 euros to 800 for the same house. I prefer not to throw away the money and live here, it's not so bad."
In the same place lives in another caravan a worker from a water supply company. He separated and, given the situation in the housing market, decided to buy a caravan. He has to pay 650 euros a month for the next seven years and cannot afford another rent. "One just adapts to anything and this was the solution I found," he says.