Alejandro Marichal: “With these suggestions we define requirements, deadlines and coverage of the aid, because only in this way will we make real, effective policies that are adjusted to our social reality.”
Lucía Jiménez: “The new legal framework guarantees that aid will reach more working families who live in rented accommodation.”
The Housing Department of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council is making progress in drafting the new ordinance regulating rental assistance for primary and permanent residences, incorporating suggestions submitted by citizens and political groups during the public consultation process. The new ordinance changes two important aspects. First, a minimum income requirement is no longer in place to apply for assistance: any working individual or family can apply as long as their income does not exceed a maximum limit. Second, the rental price considered for granting assistance is being increased, aligning it with current rental costs in the municipality. With these changes, more people will be able to benefit, and the assistance will be better suited to the realities of the current housing market.
The deadline for submitting contributions was October 24th, with a total of four suggestions received: three from residents of the municipality and one from the political group Hablemos Ahora (Let's Talk Now). During the public consultation phase, the Housing Department allowed ten business days to gather opinions and suggestions, both in person and online. The contributions were received and considered, in whole or in part, depending on their technical and legal viability. "Some of them were already included in the draft," noted Jiménez, who praised the community participation and the interest shown by social groups.
The head of the department, Lucía Jiménez, explained that “we are finalizing the draft of the ordinance and the Strategic Subsidy Plan, documents that are expected to be submitted to the full council before the end of the year for initial approval.” Jiménez emphasized that this work “will allow us to establish a more up-to-date legal framework, better adapted to the social reality of the municipality, ensuring that aid reaches working families who rent their homes more effectively.”
In this same vein, the First Deputy Mayor, Alejandro Marichal, stated: “In this second round of applications, we have incorporated input from our residents, as well as suggestions from political groups, from the very beginning of the process. Their suggestions helped us define the requirements, deadlines, and scope of the aid, because only in this way can we create real, effective policies tailored to our social reality.”
The council has allocated €200.000 in the 2026 budget and another €200.000 in the 2027 budget. These funds will be used to pay for rental assistance for 2025 and 2026, as the invoices and paperwork for this assistance are processed and paid the following year. In the previous round, 54 families benefited, with a total investment of €174.000. Eliminating the minimum income threshold will allow for an increase in the number of beneficiaries in future rounds, which are expected to be announced in early 2026. With these measures, the Housing Department reaffirms its commitment to promoting affordable housing, rehabilitating housing developments, and supporting working families in the municipality.
