The Director General of the Canarian Housing Institute, an autonomous body attached to the Ministry of Housing of the Government of the Canary Islands, Pino de León, intervened this week on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero to explain the evolution of social housing under construction on the island.
Among the social housing units pending allocation on the island are the 42 properties that the Cabildo of Lanzarote purchased from a private developer in January 2025 in the Montaña Roja area, in Playa Blanca, and which, more than a year later, have not yet been transferred to the Canarian Housing Institute.
The delay in this transfer is again due to bureaucratic reasons in the transfer procedures. Despite the fact that in December 2025, the plenary session of the Cabildo of Lanzarote approved the transfer of these properties to the Canarian Housing Institute, the bureaucratic procedures that will allow this transfer have not been concluded.
De León explains that although the regional body has "its foot on the accelerator," the legal operation of transferring the homes to the ICAVI after their purchase by the Cabildo of Lanzarote "has its edges, its procedures, and must have legal guarantees."
"We cannot dispose of the homes until they are the property of the Institute," continues the Director General of ICAVI, who assures that although "it is prudent not to set specific dates," they are "in the final process" of transfer and it is foreseeable that the procedure may be completed "in the coming months."
With data from the Ministry of Housing, in 2024 there were a total of 2,295 families registered as applicants for public housing, seeking a solution to the housing crisis that is affecting the island.
Who will be able to access these homes?
The first requirement to access social housing for rent or sale in the islands is "to be registered in the list of housing applicants in the Canary Islands." This registry "is unique" and is managed by ICAVI itself, as reported at the beginning of the year by the Minister of Public Works, Housing and Mobility of the Government of the Canary Islands, Pablo Rodríguez. He also added at the time that priority would be given to people registered in the municipality.
Access to protected housing is restricted to the economic conditions of the demanding family units. Thus, among other requirements, to determine if a family unit can be a candidate for social housing of public promotion, it must receive an income that does not exceed up to 1.5 times the Public Indicator of Income for Multiple Effects (IPREM) for rental housing, and up to 2.5 times the same indicator for housing for sale.
In 2025, the monthly IPREM is 600 euros for the family unit, 7,200 euros annually in twelve payments, or 8,400 in fourteen. Likewise, Pablo Rodríguez highlights that for working families, access to the affordable rental scheme can be extended up to 4.5 times the IPREM.
Meanwhile, to register as a candidate for privately promoted housing, the requirements are: not owning protected housing or being a resident in some of the Canary Islands municipalities.
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