La Villa de Teguise looks for ways to restore its traditional houses without losing the character of its old town

The historic centre of Teguise, former capital of Lanzarote and a listed heritage site, preserves a legacy of grand old houses and traditional homes that now faces a twofold challenge: the toll of time on centuries-old buildings and the rising cost of restoring them in line with heritage regulations. According to construction sector sources, a full renovation of a traditional home in Teguise can cost considerably more than building a new house of similar size elsewhere on the island.

Materials, trades and permits that drive up the bill

Owners who have taken on renovations around the Plaza de la Constitución or calle Marqués de Herrera y Rojas describe drawn-out processes: façades, wooden balconies and joinery must be kept in the traditional style, and specialist tradespeople are ever harder to find on the island. Municipal sources confirm that any intervention in the old town requires sign-off from the heritage department, adding further delays to work that is already complex.

Grants fall short, owners say

Owners' associations argue that the grant schemes offered by the Canary Islands Government and the Cabildo of Lanzarote for restoring homes in historic centres fall far short of the real cost of this kind of work, which is also bound up with the architectural legacy that César Manrique championed across the island, rooted in traditional Canarian building. Without that financial backing, they warn, the risk is that some homes will end up abandoned or sold to investors who do not always respect heritage criteria.

The old town, a draw for second homes

Paradoxically, the prestige of the historic centre also attracts buyers from elsewhere in search of a second home with character, which according to property portals has pushed up the price of the few traditional houses that come onto the market in Teguise. Long-standing residents fear that such interest will end up driving out the families who have lived for generations in the heart of the island's former capital.