Vacation rental Mallorca: vacation sounds different

Two years ago, the Balearic government introduced a new law on vacation rentals. Illegal offers should disappear from the market and the number of tourists in popular strongholds should be limited.

A chic finca that not only offers space for personal use, but also fantastic accommodation for vacationers. The income then makes a not inconsiderable contribution to paying off the current mortgage. For a long time, many property owners in Mallorca lived and financed their dream of owning their own four walls in a similar way. Until the Balearic government put a stop to the uncontrolled hustle and bustle.

Whether you are an apartment or house owner, if you want to rent out your home, you must first apply for a license and receive a number. This can now be checked by both the authorities and potential vacation guests using a cell phone app and GPS function. It is possible to apply for a license online. The Balearic Government provides an electronic form at www.caib.es/seucaib/es/tramites/tramite/1095724. This can be used to register the rental and initiate the further administrative process.
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However, the license is only granted to those who have purchased the corresponding overnight accommodation in the so-called "Bettenbörse". This depends on availability. The rental property must be located in a zone in which tourist rentals are permitted at all or are still permitted. Landlords in popular tourist centers on the coast hardly stand a chance. Disregarding the regulations and renting out without a license is punishable by severe fines on Mallorca and the neighboring islands. In order to monitor compliance with the law, employees of the Ministry of Tourism regularly scour online portals, such as Airbnb, to discover suspected "black sheep". In an emergency, the inspector is at the door. At least that's the warning from the authorities. Four buses in two years

The Balearic Minister of Tourism, Iago Negueruela, had to admit in a question and answer session in August 2019 that only four private landlords had been fined since the zoning plan for vacation rentals came into force. The fine was 20,001 euros each. The situation was different for commercial internet platforms that disregarded the law. They were fined 300,000 euros each for illegal offers. Over 40 sanction proceedings are currently pending.

In fact, the ministry is barely keeping up with the checks: The market is large and confusing and, as they themselves confirm, there are too few employees. In addition, the industry lobby is getting bigger and bigger. In January 2019, the Spanish Supreme Court overturned the law on vacation rentals in the Canary Islands. The supreme judges considered the extensive ban on the rental of vacation apartments in tourist areas to be a violation of competition law. The ruling could have consequences for the Balearic Islands.