Janet Anscombe

I was a university lecturer before moving to Tenerife in 2004 after finding the climate perfect for my rheumatoid arthritis. Mainly to avoid getting bored at first, I became closely involved with the Canarian property market, initially as an estate agent, and then as an independent property consultant, providing impartial advice and in-depth knowledge for investors and individual purchasers, guiding them ethically through Spanish bureaucracy and legalities. Now, I offer advice and assistance in any area to anyone moving to Tenerife to help them fulfill their dream without it turning into a nightmare, something that is unfortunately all too familiar a story here.

I hope that this blog will be helpful to anyone looking for up-to-date and relevant information about what is happening in Tenerife, as well as a straightforward guide to the procedures involved in buying and owning property here. Below on this page are the five latest of regularly-updated current news stories; for earlier news, just click on the main news link in the right hand column. Please feel free to express opinions or ask questions by clicking on individual headlines and submitting comments. There is also a Tenerife Sur current weather box in the right hand column which links to Weather Underground for more detailed forecasts.

For other more specific  property-related information, simply browse the links at the top of this page, or to find properties for sale click HERE. I am happy to answer any questions about Tenerife, whether the island and current affairs, or events and general information, as well as specific property queries. Forewarned is forearmed! If one person can be saved a small fortune by avoiding falling into the wrong hands here, then I will be happy. Either contact me by webmail or you are welcome to phone for free advice: please note that although the 922 number in the box below right is a landline, the 678 one is a mobile.

The Tenerife Cabildo has announced that the Masca road is now open again after the recent storms.

Also reopened is the Afur road, though restricted to residents and basic service vehicles.

The La Orotava road to Teide remains closed. C24H

One of the main attractions of the Santa Cruz Carnaval, the adult Murgas, came to a conclusion late last night, and for the third year running, Triqui Traques were chosen as the winner with an hilarious two-scened performance. In the first half, they sang humorous and politically charged songs as though they were musical instruments in the Tenerife Symphony Orchester, and in the second part, the scenery was staged to present them as synchronized swimmers. The arena, in the Recinto Portuario, was full to bursting, with an estimated 12,000 crowd there to enjoy the spectacle. LO

Here are tasters of both halves of the victorious Triqui Traques performance:

There is a yellow alert for spectacular waves from the Met Office AEMet. It applies for the next couple of days in Tenerife, and in El Hierro, La Palma, and Lanzarote from tomorrow, extending to the rest of the Canaries from tomorrow night. At that point, Tenerife’s alert, and that of El Hierro and La Palma, will be raised to orange. Waves are expected of up to 5 metres. Tomorrow and particularly Monday could be quite a sight if you’re near the coast.  C7

An earthquake of magnitude 4 occurred in Tenerife at 15.10 pm. It was felt both here and in Gran Canaria. According to the Richter scale, the force of the quake falls midpoint between:

Minor: 3.0-3.9 – often felt, but rarely causes damage.
Light: 4.0-4.9 – noticeable shaking of indoor items, rattling noises. Significant damage unlikely.

The earthquake was at a depth of 23km, with its epicentre 10 kms out to sea south-east of Santa Cruz  according to the Instituto Geográfico Nacional (as in the above image). No damage has been reported, and indeed, the Canarian Geophysics Centre confirmed that it would have been unlikely given the depth of the quake. María José Blanco, the Director of the Centre said that the tectonic quake was quite normal for the area, though unusual in that it was actually felt. Sra Blanco said that there had been another three earthquakes in the last several days in the same area, one on the 30th January of 2.3 on the Richter scale, and two on the 31st, of 2.0 and 2.4, which were too minor to be felt. C7, C7(2)

Binter has launched a February Thursdays campaign in which ticket prices between the Canary islands for flights in March and April are linked to a February Thursday date. On Thursday 11th, for example,  tickets will cost €11; on the 18th, €18; and on the 25th, €25. Availability for the offer is also linked to the date, so there will be 11,000 €11 tickets for February 11; 18,000 for the €18 tickets on the 18th; and, naturally, 25,000 €25 tickets for the 25th. The offer is available to Canary Island residents, and is subject to the stated availability. For more information or to book, see Binter.