Living

The Canary Islands government has received 200 applications for provisional approval of 4,047 affordable homes since the current legislature began. The figures mark a significant shift after over a decade of low activity in the sector, with officials crediting a series of reforms. Minister Pablo Rodriguez says the numbers prove that removing barriers and streamlining procedures is delivering results.

New data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute shows the Canary Islands recorded the second lowest average salary in the country in 2025. Despite three consecutive years of record tourism, the archipelago’s average wage remains almost identical to Extremadura’s, at the bottom of the national rankings.

The Canary Islands Parliament has approved a law to speed up building licences, but the debate was dominated by a row over holiday rentals. The governing coalition was split, with one party calling for short-term lets to be deregulated, while others resisted changes.

The Canary Islands government has approved a decree regulating the Hipoteca Joven Canaria programme, enabling young people aged 18 to 40, large families and single-parent families to access financing of up to 95% for their first home. The measure, which applies to properties costing up to 250,000 euros, has been criticised by the opposition for failing to address the underlying issue of high property prices.

A new amendment to the Canary Islands’ holiday rental law has caused a political split, as MPs prepare to vote on whether to ease restrictions for small property owners. The change would reclassify holiday lets from a “classified activity” to a “harmless activity,” reducing red tape. The vote is expected to be tight, hinging on the support of a single non-attached MP.