In April 2025, Lanzarote and the rest of the Canary Islands are experiencing significant changes in the regulation of vacation rentals. These measures aim to balance tourism development with housing access and territorial sustainability.
📜 Main Changes in the Legislation
1. New Law on Sustainable Use of Tourist Housing
Currently under parliamentary review, this law introduces several requirements for new vacation rentals:
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Minimum age of 10 years: Properties must be at least ten years old to be used for vacation rentals.
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Municipal authorization: Local councils will determine suitable areas for this type of accommodation.
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Building limits: Only 10% of new constructions can be designated as vacation rentals.
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Prohibition in protected areas: Vacation rentals are not allowed in areas of natural or scenic value.
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Sustainability and accessibility requirements: Properties must meet standards for safety, quality, and accessibility.
These measures have drawn criticism from industry associations, who believe they could excessively limit supply and impact the local economy.
2. Reform of the Horizontal Property Law
As of April 3, 2025, homeowners’ associations have more power to regulate vacation rentals:
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Community approval: At least 60% of property owners must agree to designate a property for tourist use.
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Penalties: Non-compliance can result in fines of up to €600,000, depending on the autonomous community.
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Surcharges: Communities can impose a surcharge of up to 20% on communal expenses for those renting without permission.
These measures aim to improve coexistence between residents and tourists and ensure housing access.
3. Unified Register for Tourist Rentals
Since January 2, 2025, a unified register for tourist and seasonal rentals is in effect:
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Identification number: Each property must obtain a number certifying compliance with regulations.
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Digital Single Window: Facilitates communication between platforms like Airbnb and the administration.
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Platform obligations: Platforms must ensure listings include the identifier and remove those that do not.
This measure seeks to eliminate unlicensed rentals and curb price increases in high-demand areas.
🏘️ Situation in Lanzarote
Lanzarote has seen a significant increase in vacation rentals, from 5,198 to 7,891 between June 2023 and April 2024. This growth has raised concerns about a housing crisis, as families are spending up to 70% of their income on rent.
Additionally, the Lanzarote Island Council has removed 133 vacation rentals from the market for failing to comply with regulations. Common issues included incorrect property registry information and lack of a certificate of occupancy.
✅ Recommendations for Property Owners
If you own a vacation rental in Lanzarote, take note of the following:
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Review the current regulations: Make sure your property complies with the new requirements.
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Obtain the necessary authorizations: Apply for municipal approval and register your property with the official tourism registry.
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Consult with your homeowners’ association: Secure the required approval to avoid fines.
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Stay informed: Keep up to date with legislative changes to remain compliant.
For more information and procedures, visit the Canary Islands Government’s Electronic Office.