The Cabildo of Lanzarote announces the upcoming creation of a subsidy line of 2.2 million euros aimed at housing applicants in Lanzarote and La Graciosa, with special attention to young people.
The president of the Institution, Oswaldo Betancort, made this measure public during the extraordinary plenary session on the State of the Island, highlighting that the objective is to "combat the housing crisis that affects thousands of people, especially young people who seek access to decent housing."
According to the Cabildo, this is a different line from the Youth Bonus for rent launched by the Government of Spain for those under 35 years of age.
Betancort stressed that this initiative represents "a firm commitment from the Cabildo to the basic rights of our population," and that it is part of the island government's actions to alleviate the housing deficit facing the island, caused by "the disastrous housing policy of the central government, which encourages occupation and does not protect owners," he said.
In Lanzarote, it is estimated that there are about 16,000 empty homes, while the average rental price has exceeded 13 euros per square meter, placing the monthly rent around 1,000 euros, an increase that has seriously affected resident families.
Betancort assured that, since taking office, "the new government team has launched a comprehensive package of measures to address the housing crisis."
"Among them, the Cabildo has signed a framework agreement with the Canarian Housing Institute to facilitate the availability of land for new constructions in municipalities such as Arrecife and Yaiza, with an initial investment of six million euros, which will bring reasonable rental housing to the market.
"We have not only committed the budget, but we have also taken real and concrete steps to build affordable rental housing, ensuring that the investment reaches where it is needed," Betancort pointed out.
Thus, the Cabildo will allocate 11 million euros this year for the purchase of land in different municipalities. In addition, 9 million euros will be invested in the purchase of 42 homes under construction in Uga for social rent.
Vacation homes
In this context, Betancort has referred to the problems derived from the rise of vacation homes in Lanzarote and La Graciosa: "In the previous term, the number of vacation homes increased by 6.5%, reaching 6,826 in 2022. According to official data, this phenomenon has exceeded the tourist capacity established in several municipalities, something that has been aggravated by the lack of effective regulation."
From June 2023 to the present, vacation homes grew until October 15 by 77% in Lanzarote, according to La Voz.
Betancort detailed that, according to a report prepared by the Housing Area in the 2019-2023 stage, "three municipalities of Lanzarote governed by the Socialist Party exceed the capacity of tourist places. Haría, in 74% of what it has assigned by the Island Plan; Tías, which exceeds them by 35%, and San Bartolomé, which also does not comply with the capacity of tourist places, exceeding by 1,468% the capacity of tourist places assigned to it by the PIOT of 91.
Finally, the president has also valued the effort of the Government of the Canary Islands to stop this trend through the draft Law on Sustainable Planning of the Tourist Use of Housing, promoted to limit the excessive growth of vacation homes and, at the same time, allow Lanzarote families to obtain extra income in a regulated manner. "It is about stopping speculation and giving Lanzarote families the opportunity to obtain an income without compromising the availability of affordable housing," he stressed.
