The Balearic government has to take some serious action. | Majorca Daily Bulletin reporter
Palma30/08/2024 10:02
I find it shocking, obscene and quite frankly selfish that 210,587 homes in the Balearics are either empty or are only used as second homes. The second home issue I can understand, after all they have been bought as holiday homes and therefore will only be used for just that - holidays. Plus there are certain restrictions that prevent some owners, for example the British, using their second homes for longer periods.
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Jacky ELLIOTTThat was directed mainly at Richard, who has also lived here (illegally) for years in the "safety" of his English enclave domicile, yet complains endlessly about how terrible everything is, (ironically also rails about the "illegals") blames it all on "them" (which generally means "foreigners" or otherwise presumed "commies" ), exhibits little knowledge of anything else, and whatever he doesn't know, he seems to just make up or parrot something he read in a tabloid or on some social media platform. Yet despite how horrible it is here for him, he refuses to go back to the "safety" of the sunlit uplands. As a 30-year Mallorca veteran, I presume you are a pensioner. I am quite sympathetic to your situation, but to be brutally honest, there's nowhere that's "cheap" anymore, not here - not England. The fact remains, that unless you're a European citizen and have a decent pension or some other income, it's going to be very difficult for you anywhere in Europe. But at least you could get council housing, healthcare, and some fiscal help in England. Can you work at all with your disability? What are your skills? What languages do you speak? I might be able to help.
Richard PearsonThank you very much.
Morgan WilliamsI have lived here for 30 years. These problems have occurred in the last few. I have no family left, here or in the UK. I am doing my best, on my own, to get by. Thank you for your advice and kind words.
Richard PearsonShe could always move back to England and get everything for free. Come to think of it, why don't you? You seem to hate it here.
Jacky ELLIOTTYes, and more than you can imagine, and unfortunately you are the wrong demographic to receive any meaningful assistance from the Spanish state. Lots of promises, especially at election times, but then Nada. Good luck.
Please excuse me, but are there many of you here facing homelessness and financial difficulties? Disability? Facing the lack of assistance from the Spanish Authorities? That is my current situation, and I apologise, but I just wanted to show another side to life here. Thank you.
There's no statistic offered here, but anyone can see that there are many derelict or otherwise uninhabitable properties out there, urban and rural. And bringing them up to habitable standards or even getting permission to do so is expensive and complicated. Then of course, there are lots of houses on rural land of that are used strictly for storing machines and agricultural supplies. Also generally uninhabitable. Not clear what the percentage of those are, but I have little doubt they're included in the "empty housing" stats.
The day they change the law to get people renting out of your property, it might change to get more properties available. Until then, not a chance. Even the local people won't let their own in, but prefer to let it to foreigners. So moaning won't help.