The Canaries officially ask Spain and the EU to allow restrictions on overseas home buyers

The Canary Islands government has officially asked Spain and the European Union to open the way for restrictions on home purchases by foreign non-residents, confirming a renewed push to address the archipelago’s housing pressures.

The proposals are relevant to people considering a second home in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote or Fuerteventura. However, the announcement concerns measures being sought, rather than a new purchasing ban that has already taken effect.

In an official statement issued yesterday, Tuesday 13th October, the regional government outlined two parallel approaches: a legislative proposal submitted to the Spanish government and suggested changes to European housing legislation.

Housing minister Pablo Rodríguez said the European amendments seek explicit recognition of the circumstances facing the Canary Islands and other island, coastal and outermost regions.

The government wants housing authorities in those territories to be able to introduce temporary restrictions on the acquisition, use or rental of residential property by foreign non-residents. It says such measures should be proportionate and accompanied by policies that increase the supply of homes, particularly affordable housing to locals.

The regional administration has asked Spain’s foreign affairs, housing and territorial policy ministries to support its proposals during European negotiations.

Separately, President Fernando Clavijo told the Canarian Parliament that a legislative proposal prepared by the region’s legal services was already with the Spanish government. He called for action before the end of the legislature.

According to reporting by Atlántico Hoy, Clavijo has also been sounding out political support for the proposed state-level measure. The announcement adds a parliamentary and legislative dimension to a debate that has continued for several years.

For British readers, the distinction between nationality and residence is central. The government’s stated target is foreign people who are not resident in the islands. Its announcement should not be read as a declaration that all British residents would be prevented from buying property.

Equally, the information released does not establish the final eligibility criteria, exemptions or commencement date of any future restrictions. Those details would depend on the wording and approval of the measures themselves.

The regional government argues that housing action must address both demand and supply. It presents the proposed limits as one part of a wider response, alongside the creation of additional accommodation.

For prospective buyers, the immediate news is therefore a further attempt to secure legislative powers. Whether restrictions are ultimately introduced, whom they cover and how they operate remain matters for the next stages of the process.