Antoni Noguera, Palma's deputy mayor for the model of the city, is to seek approval from his partners in the town hall administration for a ban on holiday rentals in apartment buildings this summer. The ban would apply throughout the city and include Playa de Palma.
Although Noguera spoke yesterday about a ban on all such rentals, it may well be that he is pre-empting the holiday rentals' legislation that is expected to be introduced by June. If a ban is introduced in the city, then Palma would be excluded from having apartments which could be legally registered for holiday rental. He adds that he wishes to see this ban extended to subsequent seasons, though when he says this, he surely can't be thinking only of the summer.
Noguera, who is due to succeed José Hila as mayor in June, has acted on a study by his department into housing needs. In order to ensure access to decent housing, the ban on holiday rentals will be applied. Owners will be liable to fines of up to 40,000 euros. The town has already been contact with the tourism ministry to discuss a strengthening of inspection.
Noguera denies that he is "invading the responsibilities" of the tourism ministry, an accusation levelled by the Aptur holiday rentals association. It has attacked him for having joined the "anti-tourism sector" and it reminds Noguera that apartments can be legally rented out under the tenancy act (so long as they are not promoted as being for holiday/tourist purposes and do not offer services). Aptur wants to know how Noguera intends getting round this.
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If Palma is going to ban holiday rentals I wonder what sort of person is going to be able to pay the up to €7,500 monthly rents. Certainly not local workers (which presumably was the idea to make accommodation available for them). The agencies will take their commission and will fill them with short term tourist rentals, now going to be outlawed. But they will find a way. The phrase 'hace ley hace trampa' springs to mind. Otherwise the result will be many fewer tourists leading to job losses all round and a winter shut down. Palma needs tourists to rent - only a few will ever stay in the overpriced hotels. If this is an idea to encourage more hotel bookings it will backfire, and Palma will once again lose out - especially for the city breaks tourists. There are plenty of European cities where it is much cheaper to go. (Palma now rates at number 10). Jason's vision of a vibrant international destination for the rich will just be a dream.
I think it's about time we travelled to more welcoming islands. Over the years or appears the locals find tourists hard to bear. I've spent thousands on the island over 30 years and I'm not keen on this ever increasing pressure...that we don't want tourists.
30 Years have been coming to Mallorca 3 times a year. Beginning to think we and our MONEY are not welcome anymore. Is the Island and Residents now wealthy enough to Shun Faithful regular visitors who stay and Enrich the Island or would we be more welcome as Cruise ship visitors who just stay a few hours and spend Very Little .
The only way I now holiday is that I rent an Air BnB room in a private residence. It is such a fabulous way to travel, not only abroad but in the U.K. also. There is such a demand for this independent style of holidaying and it will grow.
Sorry to be a party-pooper, but on this planet deputy mayors cannot make their own laws, however many hotels their uncle has.
Don't you just love people in "power" who forget the island has developed and relies upon tourism. Has he got a financial interest in an all inclusive hotel? Individuals renting out their apartments to holiday makers will not have a direct effect on housing needs as these , in my view , are in a different price bracket to daily housing requirements. Studies can be adapted to suit the purpose depending on how the survey is carried out and the criteria surveyed . What a load of piffle.
When the mayor and his deputy have finished alienating the holiday makers who will pay their wages because at the end of the day we can go else where can they get another job
Well done.............will be a victory for residents and workers.
Why does Senior Noguera not save a lot of hassle and just hand over the island to the hotel owners.?