The new regulatory decree for the Public Register of Protected Housing Applicants of Canarias introduces significant changes. Access to protected housing will now be determined by an objective scoring system that considers the social and economic situation of applicants, moving away from the previous lottery method.

Key requirements include an income limit ranging from 21,000 to 42,000 euros annually, depending on the type of housing and family circumstances. Priority is given to individuals with lower incomes and in vulnerable situations, with a maximum of 2.5 times the Iprem (Public Indicator of Multiple Effects Income) for 100% protected housing, equivalent to approximately 21,000 euros annually. This limit can increase to 6 times the Iprem for large families of special category or individuals with disabilities, and up to 5 times the Iprem (approximately 42,000 euros annually) for private-promotion protected housing ownership.

The scoring system allocates 35% of the points to social factors, another 35% to the applicant's economic income, and the remainder to family composition and circumstances. Specific quotas are reserved for young people up to 35 years old (20%), individuals over 65 years old (10%), people with functional limitations (10%), and victims of gender violence (8%), who also receive differentiated treatment.

One of the most notable innovations is the requirement for a minimum residency period in the islands. For online registration, a minimum of 4 years of uninterrupted residency is required. However, to qualify for public housing, 12 years of continuous residency in Canarias are demanded, or 15 years if the residency has been discontinuous. Additionally, 5 years of residency or employment ties in the municipality where the housing is located are required. This measure makes Canarias the first Spanish region to establish such a strict residency requirement.

Temporary allocations for urgent housing needs require 4 years of uninterrupted residency for Spanish or European Union citizens, and 5 years for other foreign nationals. Returning Canarian emigrants are exempt from this requirement and have a 1% quota in housing developments.

Users of these homes are obliged to use them as their habitual and permanent residence, with subletting, tourist use, or transfer to third parties strictly prohibited. The initial duration of the lease agreement is five years, with possible extensions of three years, and the Canarian Housing Institute will verify compliance with requirements before each expiration. Applications must be submitted through the electronic headquarters of the Canarian Housing Institute, using a digital certificate, electronic DNI, or Cl@ve system.