Canary Islands Fast-Tracks Public Housing Projects to Tackle Tenerife Shortage

The Canary Islands government is fast-tracking public housing projects in southern Tenerife to combat a severe housing shortage driven by tourism demand and a lack of available homes. The Canary Islands Housing Institute (Icavi) has officially begun the process to build 51 subsidized apartments in Adeje, a project costing 9.4 million euros that also includes parking spaces.

This development is part of a larger effort to increase affordable housing in the south. After a budget increase was approved in April, this project became one of three planned developments—alongside others in Arona and Guía de Isora—that will provide 134 new homes across the region. The total investment for these three sites is nearly 30 million euros, excluding taxes.

These projects are funded through the European Union’s "Next Generation" recovery plan. To qualify for this support, the buildings must meet strict EU energy efficiency standards, ensuring the new homes are modern and sustainable.

The regional government is currently working on a wider plan to add 1,137 homes to Tenerife’s public housing stock. This includes 620 units already under construction, 496 in the planning stages, and 21 that are finished. These efforts span the island, including a major agreement in Santa Cruz de Tenerife to build 263 homes in the Cuevas Blancas and María Jiménez areas for 41.7 million euros.

While this tender is a positive step, it is only the beginning of the administrative process. Construction will not start immediately, and despite these efforts, the demand for social housing in the region continues to significantly outpace the current supply.