The Department of Urban Planning and Technical Office of the Arrecife City Council has promoted in the last year the change of use of a total of 39 commercial premises for their conversion into homes, a measure that responds directly and effectively to the growing need for housing solutions in the capital municipality, and which is allowed as long as habitability conditions are guaranteed.
The transformation of premises into homes responds to a comprehensive strategy that combines the reuse of underutilized spaces with the administrative simplification derived from Decree Law 1/2024 on urgent measures regarding housing. This regulatory framework has made it possible to streamline the procedures necessary to convert empty premises into habitable spaces, always complying with the minimum standards of habitability.
As Maciot Cabrera explains, the conversion of disused premises or those with low commercial activity allows increasing the residential offer, while revitalizing areas of the municipality that suffered some degree of abandonment.
The councilor, who has highlighted that this measure is the result of efficient management and commitment to the real needs of citizens, emphasizes that “in a context marked by housing shortages and rising rental prices, we have worked intensely to facilitate these changes of use. Each of these new homes represents a tangible solution for families looking for a decent place to live.”
This achievement not only responds to an urgent need, but also demonstrates that with political will and good management, concrete results can be obtained.
“We will continue working to ensure that more spaces can be used as homes and to alleviate the housing pressure suffered by our neighbors. We have to adapt the city to the times. There are empty premises that can be converted into decent homes. Betting on these solutions is also betting on a more cohesive and habitable city,” adds Cabrera.