Residents in Lanzarote have revealed that they are living in cars and garages because they cannot find or afford suitable accommodation, highlighting the growing impact of the island’s housing crisis.
The accounts emerged during a public gathering organised by the Movement for Decent Housing in Lanzarote at Parque José Ramírez Cerdá in Arrecife yesterday (Sunday).
People attending the meeting described the difficulties they face finding long-term accommodation, despite having jobs and regular incomes.
Campaigners say the problem is no longer limited to unemployed people or those on low incomes, with working residents increasingly struggling to secure somewhere affordable to live.
Residents paying to live in garages
Among the cases highlighted were people reportedly paying substantial amounts of money to live in garages because they cannot find conventional rental accommodation.
Others have resorted to sleeping in their vehicles.
Campaigners argue that rising housing costs and a shortage of affordable long-term rentals are making it increasingly difficult for local people to remain on the island.
They say wages have failed to keep pace with accommodation costs, leaving some residents unable to secure a home even when they are in regular employment.
Thousands of properties recorded as empty
The Movement for Decent Housing has also questioned why so many residents are struggling to find accommodation when official figures identify thousands of vacant properties across the island.
According to the 2021 census, 20,012 properties were classified as vacant in Lanzarote, including 3,101 in Arrecife.
However, these figures reflect the situation at the time of the census and do not necessarily mean that all those properties remain empty or are suitable for long-term rental.
Campaigners believe the figures nevertheless highlight the need for authorities to examine how existing housing could be made available to residents.
Calls for more affordable housing
The group is calling for additional public housing and measures to increase the availability of affordable rental properties.
Further meetings are planned as campaigners prepare proposals to present to public authorities.
The housing shortage is also affecting Lanzarote’s tourism-dependent economy, with workers in hotels, restaurants and other businesses increasingly struggling to find accommodation near their places of employment.
For those attending Sunday's gathering, the message was clear: having a regular job is no longer a guarantee of being able to afford somewhere to live in Lanzarote.
