Canary Islands Government Publishes Amended Agreement to Boost Rural Housing Program
Published: June 3, 2025|housing-and-infrastructure|Gobierno de Canarias
Canary Islands Housing Cooperation Agreement Update
Overview
The Canary Islands government has published a fourth amendment to a key cooperation agreement between the Canary Housing Institute (ICV) and the Federation of Canary Islands Municipalities (FECAM). This deal, originally signed in 2021, aims to combat rural depopulation by funding housing projects in small municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants.
Key Changes
- Streamlines the application process for municipalities:
- Allows direct submission of grant requests to the ICV
- Enables the consolidation of multiple approvals into single resolutions
- Clarifies procedures for managing and justifying funds
- Extends deadlines for compliance
- Adjusts the composition of the overseeing Follow-up Committee
Why It Matters
Rural areas across the Canary Islands face challenges due to shrinking populations and aging housing stock.
“By simplifying bureaucratic hurdles and boosting funding, this agreement helps local authorities and residents access resources needed for building, rehabilitating, and maintaining affordable housing.”
Goals and Impact
- Reflects ongoing efforts to improve management of the program within its mandate, which runs until 2025, with potential extensions.
- Aims to ensure smoother operations, better oversight, and more sustainable rural communities.
- Ultimately, this enhances the quality of life for residents and strengthens the region’s social fabric.