Balearic government gets tough on illegal holiday lets, takes issue to Brussels

I find the whole holiday let business scandalous! There is absolutely no control or inspection, except to get an official license, in which case is easy, just pay for it! Example: last year, my husband and I rented long term (to live in year round) a finca outside of Puerto Pollensa. The house had been a vacation rental for many years through an agent in the UK, so all of the guests were Brits. There was a special tourist rental sign in the front, like most of the fincas in that area. When we moved in, we asked the owner to do an official test of the well water, as there was also a septic tank(like all the other houses there). He said the water was perfect, and no need to test it. After 3 months, my husband and I had been feeling ill for quite a while, and we had strange skin problems. We finally decided to test the water at the pharmacy in Pollensa...the result was: the water was way above acceptable levels for e_coli, coliformes fecales, and heavy metals!!! The chemist told us not to cook or even shower in this water!!!! The water was literally poisoning us! Long story shorter, the owner was shocked and said we could leave, which we did. HOW do these vacation rentals get a tourist license with poisonous water????? Beware anyone who thinks of buying or renting in Mallorca, always test the water, or demand to see a recent analysis.

Funny, about 2 years ago, Airbnb started *requiring* holiday lets to give thru licence number. We had already entered our licences, but with Airbnb, the right hand doesn't always know what the left hand is doing, so we has to enter them again. Other platforms such as VRBO have never demanded it, but we've always provided it. Nonetheless, it does beg the question of how do unlicensed lets list on platforms like Airbnb? If they're just making up a licence number, then why doesn't Airbnb check it? It's very easy. And CAIB even provides an API to check it instantly, in an automated way. So, it's as much laziness on the part of the platforms. But then, the platforms have every motivation to ignore it. It increases their catalogue, and generates more bookings. Especially since the unlicensed lets aren't required to subscribe to minimum quality standards, and are usually priced lower than market price. By the, way, Baleares aren't the only region nor is Spain the only country that requires licensing of holiday lets. Because it minimises fraud and creates a minimum standard of quality, licensing is a very common thing, especially in popular tourist destinations.

Left wing lettuce's crying to Brussels again when things don't go there way. Probably asking them for another handout on the way so they can waste that chunk of money on something pointless at the same time pretending they put there society first instead of themselves and them batsh*t crazy ideas. Only to make the people they suppose to serve, poorer. But that socialism. A system to brainwash people into thinking it's a good idea. Idiots fall for it.

Andy CoxThey Balearic Govt already lost the argument in the courts when they tried to fine Airbnb a few years back. The court ruled that the Balearic govt has the responsibility to enforce their own laws, not Airbnb and the like. So yup, just being lazy and posturing. They can’t be bothered to even just go online and find them. It’s numbingly easy. Why they don’t is anyone’s guess. Maybe a lot of councillors have unlicensed rentals on the go?

Ah typical Balearic government, kick the can down the road and blame someone else for their consistent inactivity in these issues. They have the tools to improve this situation, but they can't/don't feel the need too. Much easier to blame someone else, especially with an election year coming up!