With rules of its own
Coliving regulation in the Canary Islands, Spain: housing with complementary common spaces (2026)
Yes. Decreto ley 1/2024, de 19 de febrero (Canary Islands Decree-Law 1/2024 on urgent housing measures), added housing with complementary common spaces to Ley 2/2003 de Vivienda de Canarias (Canary Islands Housing Act 2/2003): private spaces for living in, with common spaces for community life, in return for rent or a fee. It goes on residential plots and is registered as a single property. Its 4th additional provision sets the floor areas: 25 m² private, a 12 m² living room and common areas above 20 %.
The general guide to coliving regulation in Spain →
The short answer
The Canary Islands have had a figure of their own for what the market calls coliving since 20 February 2024, the same day the decree-law was published, and in two pieces. The definition is in the 22nd additional provision of Canary Islands Housing Act 2/2003, added by Art. 29.Five of Decree-Law 1/2024. The floor areas are in the decree-law itself, in its 4th additional provision. It was validated by Resolution of 21 March 2024 (BOC no. 68 of 5 April), and Decree-Law 3/2025 amended it without touching these provisions.
The name is the same as in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, and the structure resembles the Balearic one: a residential plot and a single registered property. What is specific to the Canary Islands is who it is aimed at and that common areas are measured as a percentage.
What the rule says
Con el fin de favorecer la cohabitación de sus habitantes se permite como modalidad residencial, mediante el pago de una renta o canon, aquella formada por espacios privativos para habitación que disponga de unos espacios comunes complementarios en las que se desarrollen las actividades comunitarias de aquellos. ("In order to encourage cohabitation among its inhabitants, a residential form is allowed, through payment of rent or a fee, made up of private spaces for living in that has complementary common spaces in which their community activities take place.")
The 22nd additional provision continues (BOC no. 37 of 20 February 2024). This housing is established on plots zoned for residential uses, in the whole building or part of it, and registered as a single registered property (paragraph 2). Paragraph 3 says who it is aimed at: permanent housing needs, among others those of older people "a los efectos de atemperar los efectos de la soledad" (to ease the effects of loneliness), or transitional ones, for young people and public employees posted to cover health, teaching or security needs. And paragraph 4 leaves to regulations the minimum floor area of the spaces, the minimum common services, the maximum number of occupants and the access requirements.
The decree-law uses the figure elsewhere too: new homes arising from the actions in its Arts. 13 to 16 —converting premises and buildings to residential use, among others— "podrán responder a la modalidad residencial de alojamiento con espacios comunes complementarios" (may take the residential form of housing with complementary common spaces) (Art. 17(1)(f)), and they may never be used as holiday lets (Art. 17(1)(g)).
The conditions
The decree-law's 4th additional provision already sets these minimum floor areas:
| Condition | What it requires | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Plot | Zoned for residential uses; the whole building or part of it | AP 22(2) |
| Land registry | A single registered property | AP 22(2) |
| Private unit | At least 25 m² of usable area, able to hold a square 3 m a side | AP 4(a) |
| Bathroom | Washbasin, toilet and shower tray, with 1.50 m on the shorter side and 2.20 m of clear height | AP 4(a) |
| Living room | 12 m² of usable area with one bedroom and 2 m² more per additional room, with direct natural light and ventilation | AP 4(a) |
| Separate kitchen | If there is one inside the unit, at least 8 m² of usable area | AP 4(a) |
| Common areas | More than 20 % of the private part, fully accessible; common rooms of at least 25 m² | AP 4(b) |
| Classification | As provided for protected housing, special or general regime; computable floor area of up to 90 m² | AP 4(c) and (d) |
Source: Decree-Law 1/2024, BOC no. 37 of 20 February 2024.
If the building does not reach 20 %, the professional who signs the project has to justify why, and that the percentage reached is the maximum possible (AP 4(b)). Given their technical nature, these floor areas may be changed by regulations (second final provision). The consolidated BOE text contains the wording in force.
What the rule does not say
Worth knowing
The rule does not use the word "coliving", sets no length of stay and requires no operator. And it leaves a question open: AP 4(c) refers the classification of this housing to the rules for protected housing, and the text does not make clear whether an unprotected, open-market coliving space can rely on the 22nd additional provision. Until the regulations of paragraph 4 are issued, that question has no written answer.
What doesn't change
The contract with the resident and the obligations of running the operation do not depend on the region, and they are in the general guide to coliving regulation in Spain. To choose between a residential tenancy and another use, see LAU: residential or other use.
Frequently asked questions
Can I open a coliving space in a residential building in the Canary Islands?
The figure exists for that: the 22nd additional provision of Act 2/2003 allows this housing on plots zoned for residential uses, in the whole building or part of it, registered as a single property. What the text does not make clear is whether an unprotected, open-market coliving space can rely on it, because the 4th additional provision, letter (c), refers its classification to that of protected housing.
What minimum floor area does each unit need?
Twenty-five square metres of usable area, able to hold a square three metres a side, under the 4th additional provision of Decree-Law 1/2024. The living room has at least 12 square metres with one bedroom and two more per additional room, and a separate kitchen, if there is one, at least 8. The common areas must exceed 20 % of the private part.
Who is this form of housing aimed at?
Under paragraph 3 of the 22nd additional provision of Act 2/2003, permanent housing needs, among others those of older people, or transitional ones, for young people and public employees posted to cover health, teaching or security needs, and others of public service. Paragraph 4 leaves the subjective access requirements to regulations.
Can it be used as a holiday let?
Not when the homes arise from the actions of the decree-law itself. Article 17(1)(f) allows new homes created by converting premises or buildings to residential use, among other actions in Articles 13 to 16, to take this form, and Article 17(1)(g) forbids using them as holiday homes or any similar tourism type.
Is it in force?
Yes. Decree-Law 1/2024 came into force on the day it was published in BOC no. 37, 20 February 2024, and was validated by Resolution of 21 March 2024. Decree-Law 3/2025 amended it without touching these provisions. The regulations provided for in paragraph 4 of the 22nd additional provision, on spaces, common services and occupants, are still pending.
Other regions
- MadridRules of its own since November 2023: the "residencia compartida" (shared residence) of the General Plan's Planning Rules, a residential use allowed only in a dedicated building.
- CataloniaRules of its own since December 2020: housing with complementary common spaces under Llei 18/2007, with a certificate of occupancy and no horizontal division of the building.
- Valencian CommunityPartial rules: Act 3/2023 only regulates not-for-profit collaborative housing; operator-run coliving has no figure of its own, and the city of València is processing it in its General Plan.
- GaliciaRules of its own since 1 January 2026: shared accommodation under Act 8/2012, by public or private developers and with 30 m² of usable area per unit.
- AndalusiaPartial rules: Act 5/2025 has defined coliving (Art. 4(j)) since 24 January 2026, but the minimum floor area depends on regulations that have not been issued.
- Balearic IslandsRules of its own since May 2024: housing with complementary common spaces under Llei 5/2018, with a single certificate of occupancy for the building and no horizontal property.
- Basque CountryPartial rules: Decree 80/2022 only sets the habitability of collaborative housing; use, licensing and the contract have no rule of their own.