The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, has introduced the term “saturated areas” to replace “tensioned areas” in reference to neighbourhoods like Las Canteras in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, known for high foreign property purchases and tourist impacts.
In an interview with Canarias7 on Sunday, Clavijo briefly addressed the ongoing housing crisis, which he did not include among his government’s achievements. He stressed the need to tackle both supply and demand, advocating for restrictions on foreign buyers. When questioned about the populism of such measures and concerns from the European Union, he pointed to examples from Berlin, Amsterdam, and Denmark, asserting, “The goal is for properties in saturated areas like Las Canteras to be used only as primary residences.”
However, the Canary Islands government has resisted recognising any areas as “tensioned,” particularly in Las Palmas. To clarify, Clavijo stated, “We will refer to them as saturated areas. Regardless of the term, we will require residency where mayors face difficulties.”
He further explained that the aim is not to target the nationality of buyers but to regulate property usage. “If they reside there, they won’t be foreign; they will be residents,” he added. He mentioned that restrictions could apply to non-EU buyers.
Concluding his remarks on housing, Clavijo noted that when he returned to office in 2003, fewer than 1,000 homes were being built annually. He claimed this year would see the completion of 6,000 homes, both public and private, despite challenges like staff shortages and rising material costs.
