As Fuerteventura continues to attract investors, housing issues across the Canary Islands are becoming a focal point for community leaders.
Podemos Canarias recently called for urgent action to address the escalating housing crisis in the Islands, urging the implementation of three pivotal measures to halt evictions and enhance access to housing. The proposals include establishing a public real estate agency, introducing mandatory social rents, and requiring mediation before any eviction can take place.
At a press conference, Noemí Santana, the regional spokesperson for Podemos, highlighted the severe challenges faced by families in Ingenio and Carrizal, where evictions driven by investment funds are on the horizon. Particularly alarming is a case involving a family from Gran Canaria with six minor children, who are set to be evicted without any alternative housing option.
According to Santana, a public real estate agency would enable government intervention in the housing market, facilitating decent and stable rental options devoid of the speculative motives prevalent in the private sector. She emphasized that large landlords should be obligated to offer social rental rates, and no eviction should proceed without prior mediation that ensures housing solutions are in place.
Santana stated, “These measures are both legal and necessary. Their absence is not due to a lack of tools but rather a lack of political will.” She reminded attendees that the existing state Housing Law, though inadequate, allows for urgent actions in housing emergencies, such as the situation currently threatening a family in Ingenio.
In the case at hand, the landlord has imposed an excessively high rent increase aimed at forcing tenants out, despite their willingness to pay a reasonable amount. Santana criticized this as a tactic to profit from housing rather than ensuring housing rights are upheld.
To combat these planned evictions, Podemos will collaborate with the legal team from the Derecho al Techo platform, with intentions to escalate their efforts to both the Parliament of the Canary Islands and the national Congress if immediate action is not taken. Notably, Santana pointed out that cities like Barcelona have successfully implemented similar measures, demonstrating that solutions can be enacted in the Canary Islands as well.
Podemos also advocates for tax reforms that would penalize vacant properties and speculative practices, underscoring that tax regulations are not immutable but rather the result of political choices. Santana urged regional authorities to clarify their stance, asking whether they align with the needs of families or the interests of investment funds.
Concluding her remarks, Santana asserted, “Establishing a public real estate agency, ensuring mandatory social rents, and implementing mediation processes are not radical ideas; they are pragmatic solutions to safeguard rights. If these measures are not enacted now, countless individuals will face precarious living situations.” She expressed solidarity with affected families and the advocates fighting for housing rights on the islands.
Image credit: www.eldiario.es
Source: www.eldiario.es.
Curated by Fuerteventura Times Real Estate Desk.
