The Tenerife Cabildo has announced the launch of a dedicated advisory office to assist residents facing eviction or dealing with illegal occupation (squatters) of their homes.
This initiative forms part of a broader package of measures approved during a recent Cabildo session aimed at strengthening property rights, protecting vulnerable groups, and revitalising the housing market on the island.
The new office will offer free legal and administrative support to those involved in court or administrative proceedings related to occupied homes or eviction processes. The move comes in response to a growing number of such cases, driven by increasing demographic pressure and limited availability of developable land.
In addition to the creation of this support office, the Cabildo has called for changes to national legislation to streamline the legal recovery of properties in cases of non-payment of rent.
A key part of the proposals involves urging the regional government to expand the Canary Islands Housing Plan, with a focus on increasing the supply of affordable and protected housing. The measures include promoting public-private collaboration, particularly in municipalities experiencing the greatest housing strain.
Acknowledging a critical housing situation on the island, particularly among younger residents, the Cabildo agreed that delayed public housing policies and mounting urban development pressure have created a precarious situation. The newly adopted measures aim to reverse this trend.
Among the highlighted strategies is the activation of the Activa Vivienda programme, which targets the construction of over 1,000 new homes during the current term. The Activa Suelo initiative will work to identify and prepare residential land suitable for development, ensuring a more agile and effective response to Tenerife’s ongoing housing problems.
