Nearly 90 families are facing eviction from unfinished buildings, known as a “construction skeletons” in Costa Teguise, Lanzarote, as plans are moving forward to build a luxury hotel on the site. This situation has arisen almost two decades after a court ruling ordered the demolition of the unfinished structures.
The Teguise Magistrates' Court is now engaging with the families living in this derelict building on plot 214 to initiate the eviction process.
The Court of First Instance No. 5 of Arrecife has summoned the occupants of the buildings located on Avenida Las Palmeras and Avenida Del Mar to appear before the Teguise Magistrate's Court. This legal action has been taken by the property owner, who aims to develop the site into a high-end luxury hotel.
The families have been instructed to appear at the Magistrate's Court by tomorrow, Friday 15th March. Along with the summons, they received court orders from March last year telling them to officially identify themselves.
Currently, the case is in the "summons phase," meaning that while the eviction process is in motion, no specific date has been set for them to vacate the building.
The property owner, Toscolanz SL, a real estate development company based in Arrecife, requested the families to leave the premises in 2023 to make way for the Body, Mind & Health Hotel, which promises to feature a selection of luxury villas.
In a related development, the Department of Tourism and Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands signed an agreement with Toscolanz SL in October 2024, aimed at enhancing the skills of future hotel employees, as reported in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC).
After nearly two decades of inactivity, the site has become home to around 90 working families struggling with rising rent prices in the area. Teguise Mayor, Olivia Duque, said that Social Services have indicated that some of these families are socially excluded and in need of support.
The Town Hall has reached out to the Cabildo's Social Services department to assist in finding alternative housing for those affected. One resident shared that she recently lost a rental opportunity when the landlord chose another tenant instead.
The demolition order for the site dates back to October 31st 2005, when a court revoked the building licence for plot 214. The High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands later mandated that the council should be responsible for finding a company to carry out the demolition.
In June 2022, socialist councillor Jenifer Galán highlighted that the TSJC was questioning who was accountable for the lack of action, as the Teguise Council claimed ignorance of the judicial decision.
After years of inaction, Olivia Duque, who was then the head of the Urban Planning Department, and is now the mayor, reported in November 2022 that the property owner had refused to comply with the demolition order. The council intended to take action independently after the court threatened the former mayor, Oswaldo Betancort, with personal fines.
Despite these developments, the building remains standing, leaving the future uncertain for the families who call it home.
