Being an expat, I can see both sides of the argument but I do not understand the mentality of the Council bringing in laws that ban the letting of apartments to tourists. People who rent apartments do so because they prefer to and contribute to the local and wider economy. Clearly this policy has not been thought through. Many hotels are now all inclusive which has forced local bars and restaurants to close resulting in run down areas and unattractive resorts. As a consequence, it's only a matter of time before these places lose popularity and the hotels will also suffer as a result.For the past 20 years I have owned and lived in a residential complex which is now occupied by a mix of owners, tenants, seasonal workers and tourists. Most seasonal worker are fine, other are a nightmare. We are often woken up by the banging of doors at 6.00am in the morning and moving furniture. We also endure drunken loutish behaviour, loud music, loud voice and persistent swearing. They seem unable to have a conversation with every other work starting with a F. During the daytime, the pool and communal garden are often invaded by their friends who leave litter, cigarette butts, empty cans and bottles strewn everywhere for others to clear up.Long stay tenants are by far the worse and some owner are not much better. They often have all the attributes of seasonal workers with the addition of noisy dogs and unruly screaming children. The balconies are covered in washing and littered with rusty bikes and Barbecues and we now have a private car park that resembles a scrap yard. When the need arises, they are also difficult and costly to evict.By contrast, tourists are generally happy to be on holiday, respectful, chatty and cause little trouble. I'm not saying they are all perfect, upon arrival children can sometimes be excitable and we have occasional issues but these have been resolved very quickly.Speaking from experience and given the choice , if an owner wishes to rent their property I would rather it be occupied by tourists. It make no sense that you can rent an apartment long term or to seasonal workers legally but buts it's illegal to rent short term to holiday makers.I have real concerns that if the law continues to prohibit tourists from renting we will have more 'legalised' long term tenants and seasonal workers which will make life hell for the rest of us.T Ralph.. Are you for real?. What makes you think that flats are let for huge amounts of money? If so, it's the owners business how they are paid, not yours... if all owners are from outside Spainwhat's to say they are not declaring any income and paying taxes in there own country. If you are to be believed I would agree defecating and throwing food in the pool is unpleasant but is washing beach shoes such a big deal? you sound like a very bitter twisted person who needs to get a life...

The sooner these laws are enforced the better. I live on a small private complex where some of the owners rent out their flats for huge amounts of money. All cash in hand. The tourists are an absolute nightmare, just last week for example someone dedicating in the pool, washing their beach shoes in the pool when they return back to the apartment. throwing food in the pool. That was just last week. Its a living nightmare people do not respect the fact that we live here. All of the owners are from outside Spain. Its no wonder that Spain is in such a mess the money its loosing from these people not paying taxes etc is incredible.

I do own an apt in Mallorca and my experiance of noise comes from residents dogs barking televisions and music blasting and children either playing in the apt or crying as both dogs and children don't get to go outside in a garden. Tourists are out all day and for quite a lot of the night I never hear the tourists.

Typical of the Spanish government to try and stop progress the same as they did with Über. More regulation for a country already strangled by it's protectionist policies pushed by unions and the multinational's lobbyists, where corruption merges into politics.

I have stayed in private apartments owned by friends in the past, and I went on and bought my own apartment. I travel to it about once a month for a few nights, even during the winter months. Not all tourists are noisy, and a lot have respect for the locals living all year in these apartments. Also I find, it is nice not to have a maid wanting to clean the apartment, if one wants a lie in. Plus, there are now less and less self catering apartments. Not everyone wants B and B, half board or all inclusive. I do not let my apartment out, as where I leave everything, I know it will be in the same place when I return.

MelB - maybe you live in a lovely quiet block of apartments, if so you are lucky. Those I have visited have locals, Spanish & South Americans with noisy kids & barking dogs. Causing more sleepless nights than tourists!

Bring it on! The hoteliers are wrecking the island with their all inclusives. They think they are beyond the law. They need to be given a bloody nose.

Well said MelB.

Anybpdy complaining of the tourist "invasion" should say their prayers that it continues that way, as if it weren't for the tourists the residential apartments probably wouldn't have been built in the first place...

As a whingeing resident can I just say that any effort to prevent tourist "invasions" of residencial apartment blocks is more than welcome. The ordinary resident might then get a good night's sleep to prepare them for the next working day. Holiday lets have their place on this beautiful island, but it must be the right place.