During its meeting held on Monday, the Governing Council granted approval to a forthcoming legislative initiative of the regional government for holiday rentals. This initiative involves the draft Law for the Sustainable Management of the Tourist Use of Dwellings, which had been announced by the Regional Minister of Tourism and Employment, Jéssica de León, during her presentation in the Canary Islands Parliament last September.
The primary objective behind creating this new law is to regulate various aspects, including holiday rentals, which are currently governed by a regulation (Decree 113/2015) in the archipelago that does not establish specific quantitative or qualitative limits. Consequently, the regional government is emphasizing the importance of promoting this regulation to strike a balance between residents and tourists.
It is worth noting that in 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that the protection of the right to decent housing and the urban environment justifies the involvement of regional and local authorities in regulating the tourist use of housing. Currently, there are 46,486 holiday homes in the Canary Islands.
Holiday rentals: defining the sustainable model for the Canary Islands
Furthermore, the forthcoming law will have a comprehensive scope, encompassing aspects ranging from urban and regional planning to environmental considerations. Most notably, it will define a sustainable development model for the Canary Islands in the near future.
The recent approval marks the commencement of a public consultation phase, wherein the public will have the opportunity to express their opinions on the future management of tourist housing use. Based on the feedback received, a comprehensive legislative text will be drafted.
The government aims to involve all stakeholders and sectors of society in the drafting of this law, given its significance for the current development model. Interested individuals can provide their contributions to the regulatory text through the dedicated web portal for a period of one month.
Additionally, public information sessions will be held on each of the islands. Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, Director General of Tourism Management, Training, and Promotion, will present the primary elements of the consultation, along with crucial aspects to be addressed. Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions.
These meetings are scheduled to commence on October 27th at the Cabildo of Lanzarote (10:00 to 13:00). In Fuerteventura, they will take place on the same day at the Centro Insular de Juventud in Puerto del Rosario (17:00 to 20:00). On October 31st, an event will be held at the assembly hall of the Presidency of the Government in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (10:00 to 13:00), followed by another on November 2nd at the Elder Museum in the capital of Gran Canaria (10:00 to 13:00). Subsequent events are planned for La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro.
