The Federation of Business and Commercial Development (Fedeco) of the Canary Islands warned this Wednesday that the "disproportionate" increase in rental of commercial premises is "suffocating" small businesses and the hotel industry in the archipelago.
In a statement, Fedeco has warned of the serious situation facing the self-employed in the archipelago due to the increase in rents for commercial premises, since, according to data from the Observatory of Self-Employment, up to 47% of self-employed workers consider rent as their main professional expense, while 43% allocate between a quarter and half of their net income to this concept.
In addition, one in four (27%) considers that this cost is a real burden that prevents the development and survival of their business, says Fedeco, which indicates that rental prices have increased without limitations.
The situation is especially worrying in the Canary Islands, where commerce and the hotel industry in tourist and capital areas suffer more intensely the impact of the increase in rents for premises, he adds.
He points out in this regard that real estate pressure, together with speculation and unfair competition from large chains and investment funds, is emptying the cities of identity and reducing the viability of hospitality establishments and small traditional businesses.
“It is not sustainable to allocate half of what is earned just to pay for the premises, which is driving entrepreneurs and historical businesses that are part of our social and cultural identity out of the market. If no action is taken, we run the risk of seeing a good part of the remaining Canarian business fabric disappear in the coming years,” says Antonio Luis González, president of Fedeco Canarias.
For his part, Víctor Sánchez, general secretary of the entity, maintains that rent is no longer just another expense, but "a structural barrier" that hinders modernization, generational change and job creation in key sectors such as commerce and hospitality.
"It is necessary to apply measures: price regulation in stressed areas, direct rental aid, a stock exchange of empty premises, the recovery of disused public premises and a framework that guarantees that small business owners can continue operating," he adds.
For this reason, Fedeco Canarias calls on public administrations, both regional and local, to urgently address this situation.
He also points out that the increase in commercial rents not only threatens the continuity of thousands of businesses, but also compromises the life of neighborhoods, employment and the very sustainability of the archipelago's tourism and service economy.