The Canary Islands, one of the most important tourist destinations in Europe, is preparing to redefine the legal framework regulating the Flexible Accommodation. The Canarian government has launched a draft bill on the Sustainable Management of the Tourist Use of Dwellings, an initiative that seeks to respond to the growing tension between the boom in holiday rentals and the need to preserve residential use and territorial balance.
This new legal framework rests on several fundamental pillars, with the urban planning as a central axis. The law will give local councils the power to decide, through their planning instruments, where and under what conditions the Flexible Accommodation. This will allow a management more adapted to the reality of each municipality, being able to establish areas of growth, containment or even exclusion, always with due justification.
The quality and sustainability are another of the main objectives of the reform. The draft bill introduces a series of more demanding requirements for tourist dwellings, seeking to raise standards and professionalise the offer. Among the new conditions, the following stand out:
- Minimum age of the dwelling: Buildings shall be required to be a minimum of ten years, The aim is to prevent new construction from going directly to the tourist market to the detriment of the residential market.
- Energy requirements: Housing will have to comply with energy efficiency criteria, such as water and energy saving systems.
- Minimum usable area: A minimum area per person shall be established, ensuring the comfort of the guests.
- Authorisation of the community of owners: The express authorisation of the residents' association will be required in order to use a property for tourism, giving residents greater decision-making power.
In addition, the new law provides for a maximum period of validity of licences, which shall not exceed five years, After which they must be renewed, provided that the requirements continue to be met. It also provides for the creation of a island census of tourist dwellings, This will allow for greater control and better planning of supply.
This legislative reform is a clear indicator of the Canary Islands Government's desire to seek a more balanced and sustainable tourism model. It is an attempt to organise the growth of the Flexible Accommodation, ensuring that its development is compatible with the protection of the territory, citizen coexistence and access to housing, fundamental pillars for the future of the archipelago.
