A citizen has reported to the Local Police of Arrecife and to the Urban Planning Discipline Service of the Arrecife City Council the alleged commission of urban planning offenses in a dwelling in the capital of Lanzarote where a flat is allegedly being subdivided into different rooms for rent to workers, and has requested an inspection of the facilities to ensure they comply with the law.
The citizen pointed out to La Voz that in a building on León y Castillo street, in the heart of Arrecife, there is an "overcrowding" of a dwelling where between ten and fifteen people could be living. At the same time, he points out that the overcrowding of the dwelling "is incompatible" with its residential purpose and that it could be being used as a "shared housing, staff house or coliving" of a lucrative nature, without a license or authorization".
He thus warns that this "intense" use of facilities could breach the criteria of "habitability, health, ventilation, and evacuation". Furthermore, he points out that the change of use of a property without the necessary enabling title constitutes a "serious urban planning infringement" and that subdividing rooms for intensive rental without the relevant administrative authorizations violates the law.
In this regard, he warns that the Law provides for the need to notify the community of owners of changes in the property's destination to obtain their authorization. To which he adds that the property is also not registered as a holiday home in the General Tourism Registry of the Canary Islands.
Works to divide the dwelling into more rooms
In his complaint, he states that works "without an enabling title" have been carried out in this property and that it is being used as shared housing. He added that this is causing "continuous disturbances" to the other neighbors, as well as damage due to humidity and noise from the sanitation system, fire on the rooftop, and a use allegedly incompatible with the authorized residential purpose.
According to the property registry note for this property, the dwelling has four bedrooms and four bathrooms registered on a built area of 270 square meters. However, its sale is being advertised with seven bedrooms and six bathrooms.
In his complaint, the resident points out that this implies "the probable execution of new plumbing, evacuation, and sanitation installations without an enabling title". He therefore asks both to verify the urban planning legality.