Since 2005, the European Commission has requested the Government of the Canary Islands to eliminate the principle of tourist exploitation unit in apartment and bungalow complexes. This request was formalized in the Reasoned Opinion of Infringement No. 2002/4861, which aimed to restore the rights of tourist apartment owners.
Despite this European resolution, the Government of the Canary Islands has not addressed the demand, allowing tourist operators to continue exploiting these apartments contrary to the opinion. In 2022, ASCAV filed a complaint with European authorities regarding this situation, arguing that owners' rights were being violated.
“"The European Commission has urged the Government of the Canary Islands to draft a report on Law 6/2025, which will be reviewed in terms that contravene EU regulations."
Canarian tourism planning laws, including Law 7/1995 and Law 2/2013, have forced over 200,000 small property owners to cede their properties to a single tourist operator. This prevents them from temporarily using their homes, converting them into habitual residences, or renting them to third parties, while improvement costs fall on them.
ASCAV has expressed surprise at recent announcements from the Tourism department regarding the modification of the law, noting that it is driven by a European imperative rather than the housing emergency or the demands of affected parties. The association and the thousands of affected families expect an explanation and urgent measures to restore owners' rights, including the cessation of penalties.
Furthermore, ASCAV urges the Government of the Canary Islands to reconsider the pending modifications to Law 6/2025 on the Sustainable Regulation of Tourist Use of Housing, taking into account the demands of numerous associations and professionals in the sector. They warn of the serious harm that could be caused to citizens and the archipelago's economy if the classified activity is not declared innocuous, which could contravene the European rights of small property owners.
