The Minister of Public Works, Housing and Mobility of the Government of the Canary Islands, Pablo Rodríguez, gave an interview this week on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero to explain how the Canary Islands Housing Institute (ICAVI) will manage the 42 social houses that the Cabildo of Lanzarote and the regional Executive have acquired in Playa Blanca.
In a context where the price of housing constantly breaks price records, the social housing available is insufficient and fails to reach most of the population. The first requirement to access social housing for rent or sale on the islands is "to be registered on the list of housing applicants in the Canary Islands". This registry is "unique" and is managed by ICAVI itself, the minister said in his radio intervention.
According to Rodríguez in the morning show Buenos días, Lanzarote these 42 homes, which are the first to come onto the social market after more than 30 years without building public housing on the island, will be allocated to social housing for "more vulnerable" families, but also to affordable rent for families and working people, who "in the free market have many difficulties to access" a house.
Meanwhile, the Canarian Housing Minister has announced that the three developments that are being carried out in the Maneje neighborhood, in Arrecife, promoted by the previous government group of the Pacto de las Flores, will be only "social rent, for even cheaper rents and thinking about those people who do not have a home".
Also, although the housing registry is unique for the entire archipelago, Rodríguez explained that "priority is always given to housing applicants from the municipality in question". For example, "in the case of Playa Blanca, applicants from the municipality of Yaiza will be considered first".
Asked about the pressing problems of access to housing in the Canary Islands, where the rampant boom in holiday homes is mixed with foreign investment and real estate speculation, Rodríguez indicated that "there has to be a balance between economic development and also social development, in this case the possibility of people having a home and building a life project".
At the same time, the Canarian Executive announces that the awarding of the works for the houses in Montaña Roja, in Playa Blanca, is "imminent".
Requirements to register as a housing applicant
Access to protected housing is restricted to economic conditions of the applicant family units. So, among other requirements, to determine if a family unit can be an applicant for social housing of public promotion must receive an income that does not exceed up to 1.5 times the Public Indicator of Income of 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 per year in 12 payments, or 8,4000 in 14.
Also, Pablo Rodríguez stresses that for working families, access to the affordable rental scheme may be extended up to 4.5 times the IPREM.
Meanwhile, to register as an applicant for private promotion housing, the requirements are: not to be the owner of a protected housing or have the status of resident in some of the Canarian municipalities.
