The problem of access to housing in Lanzarote is not new and "has been present with varying intensity" since the beginning of tourism on the island. The same has happened in the case of the Balearic island of Menorca. This is reflected in the study Joint indicator system between Lanzarote and Menorca, on the occasion of the anniversary of the declaration of both as Biosphere Reserves.
The increase in prices, both for rent and sale, creates "serious" housing problems for the Canary residents. Tourist demand for vacation rentals, foreign investment, economic growth, scarcity of supply and other reasons are "affecting" prices and posing "serious implications" for the local population, especially for those with lower incomes.
The aforementioned research highlights that although housing is "a relevant social issue anywhere," in the case of Lanzarote or Menorca, the issue is "more complex" due to the interaction of tourism and urban planning.
Despite the lack of housing on the island, according to censuses from the National Statistics Institute, the housing stock in Lanzarote grew by 157% between 1991 and 2021. In those thirty years, the houses on the island of volcanoes increased far above the Canary percentage (57%) and the Balearic (86%) and the Spanish average (55%).
At the same time as the accommodation offer grew and since 2011, the average price of housing for sale in Lanzarote has not stopped growing. While rental housing suffered a "very high" increase since 2015 in the islands. The Balearic Islands, the Valencian Community and the Canary Islands have since been at the top of this growth.
The average price of housing for sale in Lanzarote has also grown since then, which was in October 2022 at 2,113 euros per square meter. In contrast, in January 2011, it was around 1,733 euros per square meter. These prices increase in coastal towns such as Playa Blanca, Playa Honda, Puerto del Carmen or Costa Teguise.
The pressure of tourism on housing
The growth of visitors causes "the resident population to increase by more than 40%". The research highlights that tourism presents "challenges such as the proper management of the balance between development and preservation" of the natural, social and cultural environment.
In addition, regarding the growth of the island, the study states that "Lanzarote has a larger area of urban land", but also "greater growth expectations" compared to Menorca due to the "approved developable land".
While the Balearic island has "clearly opted to protect a larger area" from an urban planning point of view, Lanzarote has less protected land and more protected natural spaces.
The aforementioned research reflects on the fact that both islands have decided to bet on the "sun and beach" tourism model. Meanwhile, they have not taken advantage of the moments of vulnerability of the tourism model to think about and delve into energy self-sufficiency, economic diversification and innovation, or food sovereignty.
At the same time, they anticipate that after the 2008 crisis and the one derived from the coronavirus pandemic, the advance of climate change looms and the consequences that "can be tremendous" for Lanzarote and Menorca.
