Holiday apartments bought for private use will just stand empty if they can't be used as holiday lets. The owners can't let them long-term if they also want to use them, so they can never contribute to the solution. The only sector suffering from their extended use is the hotel sector, not the homeless. Small surprise at the hotelier push-back, but it's self-interest not social conscience.

RedbaronHow will that help the locals? It's the government who has to get their act together and actually take action, not just talking.

Zoltan TeglasGood try. It was a question, seeing that you always seem to be very vocal when the PP aren’t up to your expectations.

Put the tourist tax up to 25 euro per day per person and all the overcrowding will end simplest solutions

Hotels have always been vocal that's why the letting permits were introduced in the first place. Nearly 20 years later they still complain. I agree the are hypocrites as they play the violin for the locals and the housing crises. All they are interested in is their own pockets.

Richard PearsonWhy ask me, do you think I'm in the PSOE? What a stupid comment!

Zoltan TeglasAny news about the hundreds of thousands that Pedro Sánchez promised 3 years ago ? And how many did Armengol build whilst she was in power ? 20 ?

Scapegoat rubbish, this will solve nothing.

When is the Balearic government going to build the thousands of affordable houses that are desperately needed? Next year? The year after? In five years? And meanwhile tourists numbers are still increasing, and more workers from elsewhere will have to come here to work in the hotels, putting even more pressure on the housing market.

The right to own and use property. That’s no different between a hotel owner or individual letting, leasing or short term renting. So if you apply to local government and confirm with relevant occupancy regulations. Then there’s not only the human rights laws requirement but the single market restrictions on trade . So the legality is questionable on European Union trade law and human rights legislation. But I suppose populist politics is easier than building affordable houses for locals.