PSOE Criticizes Stalled Public Housing Renovations and Legal Delays in Arona

Public housing management in Arona has become a major political issue, with the local Socialist party (PSOE) accusing the current administration of failing to carry out essential renovations. According to the PSOE, an ambitious plan to modernize 375 homes has been stalled since the change in government in 2023, leaving residents waiting indefinitely for long-overdue repairs.

The controversy centers on the halt of an urban regeneration strategy that had made significant progress under the previous administration. A key example is the Virgen del Carmen development in Guargacho, where 2.8 million euros in funding from state, regional, and local sources successfully renovated roofs, facades, and accessibility for 70 homes. However, plans to expand these improvements to the San Martín de Porres, Santa Rita, Hermano Pedro, and Mazapé developments have seen no progress over the last three years.

During a recent visit to these neighborhoods, Socialist representatives noted that residents are increasingly frustrated by the deteriorating state of their buildings. Beyond maintenance issues, many families are also caught in a legal limbo. Residents who have lived in these homes for decades are still waiting for the paperwork required to officially secure the deeds to their properties—a process the opposition claims was well underway before the change in leadership.

Socialist spokesperson José Julián Mena argues that this inaction not only threatens the safety of the buildings but also undermines the stability of these communities. With affordable housing in short supply across the south of Tenerife, the lack of a clear rehabilitation policy leaves hundreds of families in a vulnerable position, uncertain about when their homes will be repaired or when their ownership will be legally recognized.