The quest for stable housing has become a significant challenge for many in Canarias, driven by relentless increases in rental prices and a limited supply of properties. This situation has created a cycle of frequent relocations, even within the same locality, profoundly impacting the lives of citizens.
Data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) confirms this trend, revealing exceptionally high residential mobility. Annually, nearly 88,000 inter-municipal moves are recorded in the Canary Islands, translating to over 7,300 monthly transfers and approximately 240 daily. This figure underscores the pressure exerted by the real estate market on the population.
Cases like that of Marta Herrera, 24, illustrate the problem. In just three months, she has moved twice due to the difficulty of finding housing that meets her economic and personal needs. She highlights the demand for high deposits, often up to two months' rent, in addition to the current month's rent, further complicating access to a home.
“"We needed something spacious, but at the same time, reasonably priced."
Residential mobility has remained high over the last decade, with 87,994 inter-municipal immigrations in 2024, a slight increase of 1.3% compared to 86,844 in 2021. Although growth is moderate, the persistence of these figures for over ten years, with peaks in 2022 and 2023, indicates a structural crisis. Only in 2020, coinciding with pandemic restrictions, was a temporary decrease observed.
Another testimony comes from Iriome Santana, who has moved three times in the last two years, never staying in one home for more than a year. Often, landlords decide to sell, forcing tenants to find new accommodation. The requirements and initial outlay, which can exceed 2,000 euros, represent a significant obstacle.
“"I've visited over 10 real estate websites, and the cheapest I've seen is 700 euros."
By province, Las Palmas saw a 4.6% increase in moves between 2021 and 2024, rising from 40,921 to 42,816 inter-municipal changes. In contrast, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, while maintaining high mobility, recorded a slight decrease of 1.6%, from 45,923 to 45,178 moves in the same period. Néstor Mederos, a resident in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, has lived in a different home each year since becoming independent, facing rising prices and fierce competition that causes offers to disappear quickly.
