The Cajasiete headquarters in Gran Canaria hosted the first Cajasiete Forum of the season on Wednesday, focusing on the housing situation in the Canary Islands. Moderated by Tomás Galván, the event brought together institutional, business, social, and financial representatives to discuss the causes of the housing crisis and potential solutions.
Participants highlighted the imbalance between supply and demand, proposing various approaches to tackle the issue. Suggestions included increasing the construction of protected housing, facilitating financing, and restoring profitability in real estate developments.
Pino de León, director of the Canary Islands Housing Institute (ICAVI), attributed part of the problem to a "lack of construction in recent years," amidst rising demand. She noted that the Government of the Canary Islands is currently working on producing over 4,000 homes across the archipelago. De León argued that public investment could help mobilise private development and significantly increase the number of homes built.
Salud Gil, president of the Association of Entrepreneurs, Builders, and Promoters of Las Palmas, warned that "production costs have risen by nearly 50%", complicating the initiation of new projects. She explained that the disparity between construction costs and buyers' financial capabilities "compromises the sector's profitability". Gil estimated that the average annual housing need in the Canary Islands is around 12,000 homes, while only approximately 3,500 were completed in 2025. She called for measures to bridge this gap and revive both free and protected housing construction.
José Manuel Garrido, director of Institutional Relations at Cajasiete, advocated for "public-private collaboration" as a means to boost construction. He also expressed concern over the housing accessibility challenges faced by young people and the middle class. Fernando Rodríguez, territorial director of Provivienda in the Canary Islands, called for political agreements to "increase the supply of affordable and protected housing". He highlighted his organisation's acquisition and rehabilitation of 81 homes, which are rented out for around 350 euros per month, compared to the market price of approximately 900 euros.
Rafael Tarajano from ERA Inmobiliaria España and president of ACEGI, stressed that solutions should address the entire real estate market and "not focus exclusively on public housing". The forum underscored the need to enhance supply and coordinate efforts among governments, businesses, and financial entities to facilitate housing access in the Canary Islands.
