VV Licenses in Lanzarote: What the New Canary Islands Law Means for Holiday Rental Owners

The rules for holiday rentals in the Canary Islands are changing again – and this time, the impact on VV licenses in Lanzarote could be significant.

On 12 November 2025, Parliament approved the new “Law on the Sustainable Management of Tourist Use of Housing.” Once this law is fully in force, it is expected to severely limit the ability to obtain new VV (holiday rental) licenses, especially for properties that are not clearly included in municipal urban plans.

In this article, we’ll walk through what we know so far, what it could mean for existing and future VV owners in Lanzarote, and how Villa Check In can help you understand your options.

What does the new law say in simple terms?

While the legal text is complex, there are a few key points that matter most to owners:

1. New VV licenses will be heavily restricted

   
   

   After the law is published in the Official Bulletin (Boletín Oficial), new VV licenses will generally not be allowed unless the property is included in the urban planning framework of the municipality.

   
   

   In practice, that means many properties which might have qualified in the past may no longer be able to obtain a VV license.

2. The “Classified Activity” requirement is central

   
   

   The law keeps a crucial requirement: the so‑called “Classified Activity” permit.

   
   

   Only owners who can prove that, before the law was approved, they already held all required documents – including this Classified Activity permit – may be able to consolidate their rights and continue operating long term.

3. Existing rentals will be reviewed

   
   

   After the law is published:

   • The Tourism Department will have two months to send municipalities and island councils a list of registered holiday rentals.

   • Municipalities will then have eight months to verify documentation and may start by checking whether a Classified Activity permit exists.

   • Island councils will also have six months to verify legality.

   This means many existing rentals could be asked to provide documents they never needed to show before.

Why is the Classified Activity permit such a problem?

On paper, the requirement sounds simple: have a Classified Activity permit in place before the law was approved.

In reality, many town councils have not been issuing these permits for holiday rentals at all, for reasons such as:

• No clear protocol or process in place

• Treating holiday rental as an economic activity that requires self‑employed (autónomo) status

• Requiring separate access to the property

• Technical advisors assuming a tourist use rather than residential use

As a result, a large number of owners have been operating legally under existing VV rules, but without this specific permit – which now becomes the “Achilles’ heel” in the new law.

What choices do owners face now?

Every owner’s situation is different, and nobody can guarantee how each municipality will apply the law in practice. However, based on the information available, many owners are weighing two broad options:

Option 1: Try to secure your position before the law fully bites

Some owners are choosing to submit at least a preliminary application for the Classified Activity permit before the law is fully implemented – even if they know the council may not grant it.

The idea is to create a documented trail showing that, before the law took full effect, they were actively trying to comply and had started the process. In some cases, this might help when it comes to consolidating rights in the future.

However, this approach carries uncertainty:

• There is no guarantee the permit will be granted.

• It is not yet clear how each municipality will interpret or value a preliminary application.

• The administrative burden and time pressure are real.

Option 2: Wait, continue renting, and see how enforcement works

Other owners may decide not to submit anything now, continue renting under their current VV status for as long as possible, and wait to see how municipalities and island councils act once they receive the official lists.

This approach avoids rushing into a process that may be unclear or difficult to complete, but it also carries risks:

• Municipalities may later decide that lack of a Classified Activity permit is grounds for sanctions or closure.

• Owners may have less room to argue that they tried to comply in time.

In both cases, the key point is that there is no “one‑size‑fits‑all” answer. The right decision will depend on your property, your documentation, your council, and your risk tolerance.

How Villa Check In can help

Villa Check In is not a law firm and we cannot make legal decisions for you or guarantee outcomes. What we can do is:

• Help you understand how the new law interacts with your current VV situation in Lanzarote

• Review what documentation you already have in place (VV license, declarations, registrations, etc.)

• Highlight gaps or risks based on the information you provide

• Explain the practical steps involved if you decide to pursue additional permits or documentation

• Keep you informed as practical guidance emerges from associations, councils and the tourism authorities

Our goal is to reduce confusion and give you a clear, practical picture of where you stand – so you can make informed decisions for your property and your rental plans.

What should you do next?

If you own or plan to own a holiday rental property in Lanzarote, now is the time to:

1. Gather your documents

   
   

   Collect your existing VV license, registration documents, declarations of commencement, and any correspondence with your council or tourism authorities.

2. Clarify your property’s planning situation

   
   

   Check whether your property is included in the municipal urban plan in a way that supports tourist use. If you’re unsure, this is something to discuss with a technical advisor or lawyer.

3. Decide your risk level

   
   

   Consider whether you prefer to act now (for example, by attempting to initiate a Classified Activity process) or wait and see how your municipality applies the law.

4. Get support

   
   

   Talk to professionals who understand the practical side of compliance in the Canary Islands – including how guest registration, VV licensing and documentation fit together.

If you need help understanding your options, Villa Check In is here to support you.

We work every day with holiday rental owners and property managers across the Canaries, helping them stay compliant with SES Hospedajes and related regulations. While this new law adds uncertainty, you do not have to navigate it alone.

Get in touch

If you would like to discuss your situation in confidence:

• Website: https://villacheckin.com

• Email: info@villacheckin.com

• WhatsApp: +34 711 013 086

We will do our best to help you understand the implications of the new law for your VV license in Lanzarote and the options available to you.