Tenerife south: 134 social housing units tendered for 29.8 million euros

The Canary Islands Housing Institute (ICAVI), the regional government body that builds public housing, has put out to tender the construction of 134 social housing units in the south of Tenerife. They will be spread across Arona, Adeje and Guía de Isora, with a budget of 29.8 million euros. The money comes from the EU's Next Generation funds, set up after the pandemic, which is why the deadlines are tight.

What is being built and where

The project is split into three lots. Arona takes the largest, with 59 homes and just over 16 million euros. Adeje gets 51 flats for 9.4 million, and Guía de Isora 24 for 4.4 million. Every home comes with a parking space, and the buildings must be energy efficient, meaning lower electricity bills. All of them are earmarked for social or affordable rent, not for sale.

Why it matters in the south

The Arona-Adeje corridor holds a large share of the island's hotels and thousands of jobs in hospitality and retail. Yet holiday lets and new residents have pushed open-market rents out of reach. Many tourism workers share flats or drive an hour to their shift. According to the regional government itself, Tenerife has 1,137 public homes in the pipeline, counting those planned, under construction and finished. These 134 are a meaningful slice of that figure, though far short of demand.

Who can apply and how

A VPO, or officially protected home, is built with public support and its rent or price is capped by law. To be considered for one in the Canary Islands, the first step is to sign up to the Public Register of Protected Housing Applicants, a free procedure done through the regional government's online portal. The usual conditions are being over 18, having been registered as a resident in the Canaries for at least four years, not owning another home and staying below an income ceiling set at five times the IPREM, the reference index for public benefits. It is worth registering now: the homes will be allocated among those on the register, with priority for households on the lowest incomes.

Realistic timescales

Builders are now submitting bids, which usually takes one to two months. ICAVI then awards the contract and work begins, which for developments of this size tends to run two to three years. If all goes well, the first keys could be handed over around 2029. That is a long wait for anyone flat-hunting today, but the route is clear: register first, then watch for announcements from ICAVI and the three town councils.