Somos Lanzarote will submit to the Cabildo the proposal to create an Island Housing and Rental Agency, in view of the increase in prices for renting houses on the island. This agency would serve "as an intermediary between owners and tenants, offering services and guarantees to both parties", with the "objective of boosting and reducing the costs involved in the right to housing". To this end, Somos requests the collaboration of the town councils and the Autonomous Government, so that there is a joint coordination of policies and an increase in aid.
The Somos proposal, which will be debated in the plenary session this Thursday, arises as a "response to the increase in rental prices for residential use that the Lanzarote real estate market has experienced in recent months", and comes after the party amended the Cabildo's budgets so that they included specific items for housing and rent. The motion insists on the need to arbitrate both economic measures and support and intermediation for rentals.
As the motion of the political formation states, "the right to enjoy decent and adequate housing is a fundamental constitutional precept that, however, is becoming increasingly difficult to satisfy by the working people and families of the Island who opt for rent". Somos points out that "in recent months, the growth in the volume of tourist arrivals, which has been unable to significantly reduce situations of job insecurity, low wages and poverty, has contributed to the increase in rental prices due to the competition that holiday rentals carry out on residential rentals".
Therefore, the councillor and spokesperson for Somos Lanzarote in the Cabildo, Tomás López, points out that "it is necessary to implement public policies that balance the balance towards citizens who have to satisfy their right to housing, supporting from the public measures that provide security and facilities for both tenants and landlords".
Thus, Somos Lanzarote expresses the initiative to create a body to be responsible for the elaboration of a housing stock for rent, to legally advise and mediate free of charge between the parties, to offer tools that provide security and guarantees (insurance in case of non-payment, risk management, etc.), and to channel greater economic support and subsidies in the area of housing.
"Ensure comprehensive provision throughout the island territory"
As the motion points out, the competences in housing matters are shared between different administrations, mainly the Autonomous Community and the town councils. However, Somos Lanzarote considers that "in an island and limited territory like ours, the most efficient thing would be to consider the island as a basic unit to implement housing policies, with the cooperation of all the administrations involved".
As an example, they point out that a worker hired at the airport, who is looking for rental housing, "will probably do so in localities such as Playa Honda, Puerto del Carmen, Arrecife or even Tahiche, each of them located in different municipalities, but less than 10 minutes from their workplace, so it would be convenient for the administrative dispersion not to harm the citizen when accessing a service such as a public rental agency".
Therefore, Somos Lanzarote will request in this motion that the Cabildo promote the initiative of collaboration at island level, in compliance with what is established by the law of cabildos in relation to "ensuring the integral and adequate provision in the whole island territory of services of municipal competence" and to the exercise of competences of the Autonomous Community "that predominantly satisfy an island interest".
