Fuerteventura PP Launches Catalog of Vacant Homes to Tackle Housing Crisis
The initiative will be presented soon in the council meetings of La Oliva, Pájara and Puerto del Rosario
Background
The Popular Party (PP) of Fuerteventura will soon submit a motion to the municipal councils of La Oliva, Pájara and Puerto del Rosario to create a municipal catalog of vacant dwellings. The proposal aims to address the effects of the housing crisis that is affecting thousands of island residents, amid a shortage of public housing and a recent decline in construction activity on the island.
Scale of the problem
- Recent data indicate that the Canary Islands have more than 200,000 empty homes.
- Many of these properties left the rental market after the Housing Law 12/2023 came into force.
- A portion of the vacant units are used for short‑term tourism rentals, put up for sale, or remain locked because owners fear they cannot recover the property in case of payment defaults.
Proposed catalog
The PP argues that an up‑to‑date register will enable authorities to:
- Identify unoccupied homes.
- Assess rehabilitation needs.
- Match the available supply with the island’s high demand for rental housing.
- Inform owners about the 2025 regional budget’s tax incentives designed to promote the refurbishment and rental of empty properties.
Official statement
“The lack of information on empty homes has so far hampered an effective policy. With this catalog we will be able to produce a real diagnosis and develop programmes that move these dwellings onto the market, taking concrete steps to alleviate the housing emergency in Fuerteventura,” the island‑wide PP said.
Future outlook
The party also intends to extend this measure to other municipalities across the island, hoping it becomes a common policy that improves access to housing throughout Fuerteventura.