El Médano Platform Launches Campaign Against Illegal Holiday Rentals

Just because a holiday home is registered and has a sign doesn't mean it's legal. Many don't meet the necessary rules, whether they're registered or not. This was the key message from the Barquera Neighborhood Platform in El Médano, which yesterday started a campaign. They're putting up signs around town to encourage people to look into, and if needed, report holiday rental properties (VVs) operating in the Granadilla area.

Dozens of local businesses and homes are already helping with this effort. The signs are now appearing in shop windows and on buildings all over town. These signs feature QR codes that link directly to the official reporting channels for both the Canary Islands Government and the local council. They also provide details about the rules for these tourist apartments.

Victoria Colmoner, a spokesperson for the platform, explained that the campaign is a response to "a collapsing situation." She said residents have been forced to inform others so they understand their rights and can use them.

She pointed out that the current system for registering holiday homes doesn't involve the authorities officially checking if the properties actually follow the law. The group is highlighting how widespread this issue is. They note that El Médano, a town with fewer than 10,000 residents, has almost 8,500 tourist beds spread across nearly 2,000 registered holiday homes. Colmoner stressed that this pressure is directly affecting daily life in the town.

The signs also remind people about the local rules. Granadilla de Abona's holiday home rules specifically ban these rentals in buildings where people access their homes through shared spaces like entrances, stairwells, or elevators. This rule would apply to many existing residential properties.

They highlighted that each community has a limit on the percentage of holiday homes allowed. Neighbors can make decisions at meetings to reduce this number if the properties aren't fully legal.