ELS-0018Residency · Canary Islands

Holiday Lets Are Concentrated in Just Nine Canary Islands Municipalities — What Does This Mean for Expats?

Official sources checked
Written by Sue Berry
Practical guidance

More than half of the Canary Islands’ advertised holiday lets are concentrated in just nine municipalities. Here is what the figures may mean for expats, homeowners, buyers and people searching for a long-term rental.

The Quick Answer

A new report shows that just nine of the Canary Islands’ 88 municipalities accounted for 20,066 holiday lets advertised online in May 2026. That represents 52.3% of all advertised holiday-rental properties across the archipelago.

For expats, this matters because a high concentration of holiday lets can affect long-term rental availability, property prices, neighbourhood character, parking, seasonal noise and the rules property owners may need to follow.

A popular tourist area can still be a good place to live, but it is important to look beyond the holiday experience and understand how the area works throughout the year.

Why This Matters

Holiday rentals are not only a tourism issue.

They can affect people who:

want to buy a retirement home;

are searching for a long-term rental;

own a holiday-let property;

rely on rental income;

plan to leave property to their family;

may need to sell or change how a property is used later.

A town with a high number of holiday lets may offer restaurants, transport links, English-speaking services and an international community.

However, it may also have:

fewer homes available for long-term rent;

higher property prices;

seasonal noise and crowds;

regular changes of neighbours;

parking pressure;

services that reduce outside the main tourist season.

The figures also show that the housing situation is more complicated than one single issue. Holiday lets, empty homes, housing affordability, new construction and long-term rental supply all contribute to the wider picture.

Frequently asked questions

Which Canary Islands municipality has the most holiday lets? Arona in South Tenerife had the highest number in the May 2026 figures, with 3,675 advertised holiday-rental properties.

Which areas of Fuerteventura appear in the top nine? 16/7/26: La Oliva and Pájara were both included. La Oliva had 2,969 advertised properties, while Pájara had 951.

Does a high number of holiday lets make an area unsuitable for expats? Not necessarily. Tourist areas may offer good services, transport and international communities. However, they may also have seasonal noise, fewer long-term rentals and higher housing costs.

Why are registered holiday-let figures higher than active listings? Some properties may remain registered but are not currently advertised or receiving guests. Owners may retain registration for possible future use.

Can I assume a property is legal because it appears on a booking platform? No. An online listing does not prove that the property meets current registration, planning, community or tax requirements. But the platform like AirBNB have a legal obligation to check for proof.

Can a community of owners restrict holiday letting? Community rules can affect how properties are used. The exact position should be checked through the community documents and with an appropriately qualified adviser.

Should I buy a property based on holiday-rental income? Only after checking that the use is permitted and verifying realistic income and costs. The property should ideally remain affordable without relying entirely on holiday bookings.

What property information should my family know? They should know where to find ownership documents, registrations, insurance, tax records, management contacts, keys, utility details and any instructions about the future of the property.

Important — Read Before You Act

Holiday-let rules can change and may differ between municipalities, buildings and individual properties.

Do not assume that a property can legally operate as a holiday rental because:

it has previously appeared on a booking platform;

another property nearby is being rented;

an estate agent says it should be possible;

it already has an old registration number.

Before buying, renting out or cancelling a registration, obtain current advice from an appropriately qualified local professional.

What To Do — Step by Step

Understand where holiday lets are concentrated The nine municipalities with the highest number of advertised holiday lets were: Arona: 3,675 Adeje: 3,328 San Bartolomé de Tirajana: 3,086 La Oliva: 2,969 Yaiza: 1,880 Tías: 1,775 Mogán: 1,468 Pájara: 951 Puerto de la Cruz: 934 For Fuerteventura, both La Oliva and Pájara appear in the leading group.
Look at concentration, not only the total number The number of holiday lets should also be compared with the total housing stock. Across the nine main tourist municipalities, holiday lets represented an average of 9.74% of homes. In the rest of the Canary Islands, the average was 2.03%. Yaiza had the highest concentration at 18.14%, followed by La Oliva at 17.58%, Adeje at 12.42% and Tías at 10.30%. This means that in some areas, holiday rentals form a substantial part of the local housing market.
Consider the benefits of tourist areas Popular tourist areas may offer: more restaurants and cafés; stronger transport links; English-speaking services; employment and business opportunities; leisure facilities; international communities; easier access for visiting family. These benefits can make settling in easier, particularly during the first few years abroad.
Consider the possible disadvantages High concentrations of holiday lets may contribute to: reduced long-term rental availability; higher housing costs; seasonal crowds; nightlife and visitor noise; frequent changes of neighbours; parking pressure; less stable neighbourhood communities; quieter services outside peak season. Visit the area at different times of year before making a long-term decision.
Understand the fall in advertised listings The number of holiday rentals advertised across the Canary Islands fell from 47,648 in May 2025 to 38,337 in May 2026. That is a reduction of 9,311 listings, or 19.5%. The decline followed a period of uncertainty surrounding new tourist-housing legislation, although the figures do not prove that legislation was the only cause.
Know the difference between registered and active properties In June 2026, the Canary Islands Tourism Register contained 73,841 registered holiday-rental properties. However, only 38,337 had been advertised on online platforms during the previous month. A registered property may not currently be operating as an active holiday let. Some owners may retain a registration to preserve future options.
Check the position of empty homes The report also drew attention to vacant housing. In the Canary Islands’ largest cities, 59,090 homes were recorded as vacant in the 2021 census. This represented 14.5% of housing stock, compared with 1.06% being used as holiday rentals. In the main tourist municipalities, vacant homes represented 28.5% of properties, compared with 9.74% identified as holiday rentals. This suggests that housing shortages cannot be explained by holiday lets alone.
Check whether a property can legally be rented to tourists Before operating a holiday let, confirm: the property is correctly registered; local planning rules allow the use; the community of owners permits it; national registration requirements are met; insurance covers paying guests; guest-registration rules are followed; tax returns and records are maintained; advertisements display the correct information.
Ask the right questions before buying Before buying with the intention of holiday letting, ask: Is holiday letting currently permitted? Is an existing registration transferable? Does the community of owners allow it? Are there proposed legal changes? Can rental-income claims be independently verified? What management, cleaning and insurance costs apply? Is there demand outside peak season? Could I afford the property without rental income?
Organise the property information Keep a clear record of: deeds and ownership documents; registration information; community rules; insurance; tax records; management contacts; booking-platform details; keys and access instructions; utility providers; maintenance contacts; instructions for family. This information becomes especially important if you become ill, lose capacity or die.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming a previous holiday-let registration guarantees future permission - Rules can change and an existing registration may not automatically transfer to a new owner.
Buying based on expected rental income alone - The property should remain affordable if bookings fall or holiday letting becomes restricted.
Ignoring community-of-owners rules - A property may meet general legal requirements but still face restrictions within the building or complex.
Treating every registered property as actively rented - Registration totals can be much higher than the number of properties currently advertised.
Viewing the area only during peak season - The neighbourhood may feel very different during quieter months.
Forgetting tax, insurance and management costs - Gross rental income is not the same as profit.
Failing to organise property records - Family may struggle to understand registrations, bills and management arrangements during an emergency.

Your Action Checklist

Check whether the municipality has a high concentration of holiday lets.
Visit the area during peak and quiet seasons.
Check the availability of long-term rentals.
Speak to full-time residents.
Ask about noise, parking and seasonal crowds.
Check whether local services operate year-round.
Confirm whether the property is correctly registered.
Check community-of-owners rules.
Confirm local planning restrictions.
Check national short-term rental requirements.
Verify insurance cover for paying guests.
Check guest-registration responsibilities.
Confirm tax and record-keeping obligations.
Verify any claimed rental income independently.
Calculate cleaning and management costs.
Test whether the property is affordable without rental income.
Check whether an existing registration transfers to a buyer.
Keep copies of deeds and registration records.
Record management and maintenance contacts.
Tell family where property information is stored.

In Summary

Holiday rentals are a significant part of life in the Canary Islands, particularly in the main tourist municipalities.

The figures do not mean that these areas are unsuitable for expats. They do show why anyone planning to buy, rent or operate a holiday property should research the area carefully.

Before making a decision:

visit during different seasons;

check long-term rental availability;

understand community rules;

confirm whether holiday letting is permitted;

calculate all costs;

check insurance and tax obligations;

consider whether the property remains affordable without rental income;

keep property information organised for your family.

The most useful question is not simply:

“Is this a popular tourist area?”

It is:

“Would this area and property still work for my everyday life and long-term plans?”

Sue’s final thoughts & experiences

A personal note from Sue Berry

Holiday rentals are an important part of life in the Canary Islands, especially in our main tourist areas.

But behind every figure is a real home, a property owner, a long-term tenant, a neighbour or a family planning their future.

My advice is not to panic when rules or headlines change. Take time to understand what applies to your own property and circumstances. Keep your information organised, speak to the right professionals and make sure your family knows where the important details are kept.

That is how we turn uncertainty into something calmer and more manageable.