canary islands affordable housing applications surge

Canary Islands affordable housing applications surge to 4,047

Affordable housing applications soar in the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Mobility, led by Pablo Rodríguez, has received 200 applications for provisional qualification since the start of the current legislature, covering a total of 4,047 affordable homes across the archipelago. According to the regional government, this confirms a shift in trend seen in recent years and marks “the revival of affordable housing development after more than a decade of very limited activity.”

What the provisional qualification means

Provisional qualification is one of the main indicators of momentum in the affordable housing sector, as it is the administrative step that allows a development to enter the public protection regime before construction begins. It can be requested by individuals or legal entities, whether public or private, including cooperatives and community property groups.

Minister credits regulatory reforms

Minister for Public Works, Housing and Mobility, Pablo Rodríguez, argues the data shows that the measures introduced by the government are delivering results. “When obstacles are removed, procedures are streamlined and conditions are created that make projects viable, the sector responds and new affordable housing developments start to get underway,” he said.

The evolution of applications clearly reflects this turnaround. In 2021, only three applications were registered, covering 112 homes. In 2022, the figure dropped further to two applications for 78 homes. A first uptick came in 2023, with 14 applications for 414 homes. From 2024 onwards, coinciding with the introduction of the Canary Islands government’s reforms, growth accelerated significantly, reaching 200 applications and 4,047 affordable homes registered between 2024, 2025 and the first half of 2026, consolidating the recovery of affordable housing development in the archipelago.

Breaking down the figures: 2024 saw 75 applications for 2,004 homes; 2025, 95 applications for 1,589 properties; and so far in 2026, 30 applications for 454 homes.

Key measures behind the growth

According to Rodríguez, the rise in applications is a direct result of the package of reforms introduced during the current legislature to encourage affordable housing construction. He noted that the government has approved two housing decrees—one of which has been made law—that have simplified administrative processing, facilitated land development, strengthened legal certainty, and improved conditions for investment in this type of development.

“Our aim was not just to pass new regulations, but to get more homes built. The qualification applications are the best evidence that we are creating a more attractive environment for promoting affordable housing, and that collaboration between the public and private sectors is beginning to translate into new projects,” he said.

Updating costs to reflect reality

The minister stated that one of the most significant measures has been updating the Canary Islands Basic Module, adapting it to the real cost of construction on each island. “For many years, it was practically unviable to promote affordable housing because the costs did not match the reality of the market. Correcting that situation was essential to revive activity and start generating supply again. This is something we have discussed with the sector, and we will continue to do so. This year we will update it again to adjust this benchmark to the reality of our islands,” he said.

Rodríguez stressed that the government’s housing policy has focused on tackling the main obstacles that were hindering new developments. “A lack of available land, bureaucratic delays, and an unattractive economic framework had held back affordable housing construction for years. With the reforms introduced during this legislature, we are changing that picture, and the data is beginning to reflect that transformation,” he concluded.

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