The Housing and Land Observatory (OVS) publishes its quarterly bulletin with data from the first quarter of 2026, reflecting a 74.9% increase in the construction of protected housing compared to the same period in 2025, the highest record in 14 years.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda has released the data from the 57th quarterly bulletin of the Housing and Land Observatory (OVS), corresponding to the first quarter of 2026. The report shows a significant boost in the construction of protected housing, with 5,215 completed units, 74.9% more than in the same quarter of 2025. This is the best figure for a first quarter in the last 14 years.
In the case of the Canary Islands, the trend is positive, although the report highlights that the largest volume of completed protected housing is concentrated in Catalonia, where 60% of the national total has been completed. Nonetheless, the archipelago also benefits from the overall increase in public investment in housing, which aims to alleviate access difficulties in the islands.
The construction of free housing also shows a rebound: 25,480 homes were completed in the first quarter, 17.8% more than the previous year. Additionally, 39,196 new homes were started, the highest figure in 18 years, with a year-on-year increase of 12.7%. These figures suggest a reactivation of the sector that could impact the Canary market, where the demand for housing remains high.
Regarding financing, the number of mortgages on housing reached 131,554 in the first quarter, 9.7% more than in the same period of 2025. This is the highest figure for a first quarter in 15 years. The ratio of mortgages to sales stood at 80.5%, the highest percentage in 23 quarters, indicating that most acquisitions are made with mortgage credit.
Employment in the construction sector also experiences notable growth: 1,743,900 people were employed in the first quarter, 7% more than the previous year. This represents 114,300 new jobs in the last year, a trend that is also reflected in the Canary Islands, where construction is a key economic driver.
The Ministry emphasizes that these figures are the result of the commitment to public housing promoted by the department led by Isabel Rodríguez. The protected housing built by public developers in the first quarter of 2026 is the highest since records began in 2014, reinforcing the Government's commitment to increasing the public housing stock.
For Canarians, these figures represent hope in a context of rising prices and access difficulties. However, the report does not break down specific data by autonomous communities, so we will have to wait for future publications to understand the real impact on the islands. For now, the national trend is positive and points to a recovery of the sector after years of crisis.
The bulletin also highlights the push for housing rehabilitation, although it does not provide specific figures. In the Canary Islands, rehabilitation is particularly relevant in tourist areas and historic centres, where the age of the building stock requires energy and structural improvement actions.
In summary, the data from the first quarter of 2026 reflect a recovering housing market, with significant increases in construction, financing, and employment. For Canarians, the key will be whether this growth translates into a greater supply of affordable housing in the islands, where demand continues to far exceed supply.
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