Thousands of holiday rentals face inspections in South Tenerife

Almost 7,000 holiday rental properties in South Tenerife are set to come under scrutiny as Arona Council launches a major review of tourist accommodation in the municipality.

The checks will cover 6,886 registered holiday lets, including properties in popular tourist areas such as Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas.

The aim is to make sure properties being rented to holidaymakers have the correct paperwork and comply with local planning and tourism regulations.

What will the council be checking?

Arona Council has received a list of registered holiday rental properties from the Canary Islands Government and will now compare this information with its own records.

Officials will check whether each property has the necessary documents and whether it meets the rules for being used as holiday accommodation.

Some properties may also be visited by council inspectors, particularly where paperwork is missing, information does not match, or potential problems have been identified.

However, this does not mean that all 6,886 properties are operating illegally, or that every holiday let will receive a physical inspection.

Being registered does not automatically mean a property is legal

One of the main issues is that being registered as a holiday rental with the Canary Islands Government does not necessarily mean a property meets all the local council's requirements.

For example, a property may be registered for tourist use but still need to meet planning rules governing how that particular building or home can be used.

The council wants to identify any properties where these requirements have not been met and decide what action, if any, is necessary.

Each case will be assessed individually rather than applying the same decision to every property.

What does this mean for holiday let owners?

The council is also introducing a process that could allow certain existing holiday rentals to continue operating under the updated Canary Islands holiday rental laws.

This is aimed at properties that were already being used for holiday accommodation before the new rules came into force.

Owners who meet the relevant conditions may be able to apply to keep renting their properties to tourists, even where current planning regulations would not normally allow it.

However, this is not automatic, and applications will need to meet the legal requirements.

Will holiday rentals be forced to close?

The announcement does not mean thousands of holiday lets are about to be shut down.

Instead, the council is beginning a review to establish which properties meet the rules, which may need additional paperwork and whether any further action is required.

Mayor Fátima Lemes has explained that properties have different circumstances and must be assessed individually.

The checks will take place gradually, with council officials reviewing documents and carrying out inspections where necessary.

For holiday let owners in Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas and other parts of Arona, the main message is to ensure their registration details, planning status and paperwork are in order.

The council has not announced a deadline for completing all 6,886 reviews.