Property Owners Support Group

[andrew711]

Eleanor, you are right. It doesn't follow at all. As importantly, there simply aren't the hotel places to accommodate all the visitors especially in the height of summer. The hoteliers will point to occupancy figures and attribute less than 100% across the board as evidence of the harmful effect of holiday rentals, but this is nonsense. There is no such thing as 100% full occupancy (as an aggregate) anywhere on Mallorca and probably only ever was way back in the 70s. Seems to me the hoteliers are beginning to run scared as big guns from other business sectors line up against them across the battlefield.

 

[Papillon]

Thanks Eleanor and Sparky for those articles.

The staggering impression is that nobody from any of the interested parties have sat down together and come up with a workable plan that will secure the future of the island, allow fair competition amongst all providers of holiday accommodation, and generate the much needed tax revenue.

I believe many property owners are hoping the issue will fade away and things will quickly return to normal. It will not and as the estate agent has made it quite clear:

“Holiday rentals 2 weeks or 3 weeks are finished”

It may be that the only option is to take action ourselves and to threaten to withdraw all touristic rental properties from the market next year to force the issue. One would hope that if word of such an initiative gained publicity then it would focus the minds of the parties involved.

We have enormous financial clout if we can somehow stick together, we know there are powerful and influential groups on our side.

What we don’t want see is owners facing crippling fines because of ignorance of the Touristic Rental Legislation.

I have set up an email account at:

pollensapropertyownersgroup@gmail.com

If you feel strongly about this issue please register with your screen name using an appropriate address if you do not wish to be identified. All will be in the strictest confidence.

Sparky I hope you will allow the email address to remain in this post.

 

[Sparky]

Papillon, i can see no reason to remove the email address as it's not a commercial contact. I think it is in everyones interest to try to come to a reasonable agreement on this issue and i wish you good luck in your efforts, lets just hope that common sense will eventually prevail .

 

[eleanor]

Good points papillon and I see where you are coming from regarding the withdrawing of rental property from the market. The fact is though that legal or not legal many many people just can't afford to not rent. Ok we hear the usual - you shouldn't have bought if you can't afford without rentals but the fact remains that our dear friends the estate agents made a heck of a lot of money selling based on potential rental revenue. I think there will be many people put into the position of having to rent illegally. There are going to be lots of renters with lots of friends next year!!

I wonder if there is a similar response throughout other areas of the island? Pollensa of course is a small place and it would be interesting to know if a storm is brewing on other forums especially in the Santa Ponsa area and Cal a Dor. I wonder too about other nationalities and their response.

It will be interesting to see how this will sort itself out. I'm sure revenue must already be down on a few rental sites where people have suspended or cancelled their advertising.

There will also be those, besides the hotels, who may be clapping their hands together pleased that this is happening. I hope those people doing the clapping don't own property or a business related to the tourist industry as the knock on is obvious to see.

 

[Papillon]

You are right in what you say Eleanor, there are many who have to rent to survive especially if they bought at the height of the market and were mis-sold the property on potential rental income.

It is these very owners that must make the difficult decision to get involved because a €30,000 fine would wipe them out.

Yes a lot of "friendly people " in Mallorca next year maybe.

 

[Belladonna]

A lot of blank advertising space in some areas and a lot of full advertising in estate agents windows too no doubt!

 

[eleanor]

I wonder who now might buy?

 

[Papillon]

It’s interesting to see where we all fit into the holiday experience in Mallorca.

Many of us may have visited the first time as teenagers and enjoyed the delights of Magaluf and all it had to offer.

Then as time went by returned with partner to move up market to the more select hotels on the island that cater for the discerning (maturing?) holidaymaker.

Once married and with young children it was the apartment hotels small cramped rooms and the endless “Agadoo” at 6 o’clock.

As the children got older renting an apartment became more appropriate and affordable, especially when grand parents were taken along for a little child minding.

The next stage then was to buy a small apartment and subsidise the expenses with some summer rental.

Then having made that work a small villa with its own pool and privacy, the intention being to maybe settling down for more time on the island after retirement. Again a little summer renting helped with the bills.

This process has been going on for years and has worked well to cater for all the needs of the demanding traveller. The whole of the island economy has thrived on this well proven success story.

Now at a time when the island needs enormous investment for the future we have the bright idea that criminalising the rental property market will solve the islands problems.

Nothing is wrong with what they have and by just applying sensible regulation and targeting tax revenue collection the future of the island would become secure.

There is enough space for all of us, the hoteliers and apartment hotels cannot cater for all the demands of the islands infrastructure, even if 100% full throughout the summer season.

The prosperity of the island relies on choice don’t let that be taken away by the mindless self interest of one powerful lobby group.

 

[Keswick1uk]

Not sure I can post here (please delete my post if I ought not be here), but the target market for hotels is completely different from apartments and villas, as others have said.

We have stayed in hotels when our family structure meant sharing a room and saving me time cooking.

Now we are an older family with one boy and one girl in their late teens, all perfectly capable of keeping things tidy and helping cook and requiring at least three rooms, apartments or villas are our only choice.

If the hotels have gone AI, that might be where their problem lies. They automatically killed off part of their market. When we used to stay in hotels, AI was the last thing we would have wanted. Half board was bad enough in that the food becomes samey after about 4 days unless you are in a resort which allows hotel restaurant hopping. With AI, everything you have paid for is samey, more people hang around the hotel in the day making the hotel facilities busier, and free drink gives the impression that the place is highly likely to attract those who will over-indulge (even if, in reality, it doesn't).

It's madness becoming AI when a hotel is surrounded by wonderful areas to visit and restaurants to eat in as people who have grown to love the area will want to get out and enjoy it. It makes far more sense for AI when it's in an area where it is either unsafe to travel very far out of the hotel or on an island where there is very little to do but sunbathe and swim, or where the area simply does not have any choices of restaurants.

 

[El Gordo]

Vote Papillon

It’s interesting to see where we all fit into the holiday experience in Mallorca.

Many of us may have visited the first time as teenagers and enjoyed the delights of Magaluf and all it had to offer.

Then as time went by returned with partner to move up market to the more select hotels on the island that cater for the discerning (maturing?) holidaymaker.

Once married and with young children it was the apartment hotels small cramped rooms and the endless “Agadoo” at 6 o’clock.

As the children got older renting an apartment became more appropriate and affordable, especially when grand parents were taken along for a little child minding.

The next stage then was to buy a small apartment and subsidise the expenses with some summer rental.

Then having made that work a small villa with its own pool and privacy, the intention being to maybe settling down for more time on the island after retirement. Again a little summer renting helped with the bills.

This process has been going on for years and has worked well to cater for all the needs of the demanding traveller. The whole of the island economy has thrived on this well proven success story.

Now at a time when the island needs enormous investment for the future we have the bright idea that criminalising the rental property market will solve the islands problems.

Nothing is wrong with what they have and by just applying sensible regulation and targeting tax revenue collection the future of the island would become secure.

There is enough space for all of us, the hoteliers and apartment hotels cannot cater for all the demands of the islands infrastructure, even if 100% full throughout the summer season.

The prosperity of the island relies on choice don’t let that be taken away by the mindless self interest of one powerful lobby group.

If this is your "Party" manifesto, along with your other posts, I vote Papillon for President of Mallorca.

But seriously...you talk a lot of sense..Thanks for your insight into the "Spanish" problem.

 

[eleanor]

Papillon so well put! You know my life!

Seriously I agree with everything you have said here. Nothing to add as you have said it all.

I suppose what is sad is you speak of choice for the holidaymaker but the choice for the owner is being taken away from them as they are being branded as breaking the law.

So what is their choice If they own an apartment then the choice is continue to rent knowing you will face high fines if caught as you are illegal.

OR don't rent and possibly have to sell at possibly a low price as revenue needed to own? This is sad and not the ending many buyers expected to find themselves in. Remember too just how much money those owners have brought to the economy - you only need to check a purchase tax bill to see the answer to that!

Keswick I agree too. The markets are different and again the choice word comes in. I think you are right that there might be some that will arrive and drink and eat and not leave a hotel. I can understand it is great for those who like to know how much a holiday will cost and know that everything is taken care of in going Ai and that is fine but so many businesses and restaurants suffer because of AI. This doesn't make AI wrong it just means as Papillon says that a choice is a right and there is plenty of room for all.

 

[copper]

Not an owner so perhaps I shouldnt be here either but we want to come to PP every year and we want to rent an apartment !!!!!

Have done all the hotel thing now like our apartment hols wherever we visit Breakfast on the balcony then everything spent in the area Meals out etc Why wont they give ot licences then they would know who they have to chase for tax !! Recently looked somewhere in Portugal and all the properties had a licence No on them I noticed

Hope this is sorted out for renters and owners or the whole of Majorca is going to lose out on a lot of revenue and I certainly wont be staying in an AI Hotel !!!

 

[CathB]

Not an owner so perhaps I shouldnt be here either but we want to come to PP every year and we want to rent an apartment !!!!!

Have done all the hotel thing now like our apartment hols wherever we visit Breakfast on the balcony then everything spent in the area Meals out etc Why wont they give ot licences then they would know who they have to chase for tax !! Recently looked somewhere in Portugal and all the properties had a licence No on them I noticed

Hope this is sorted out for renters and owners or the whole of Majorca is going to lose out on a lot of revenue and I certainly wont be staying in an AI Hotel !!!

Totally agree..over the years we have rented a number of apartments in the port..from this site and others and also agents. Does this mean that they will no longer be advertised ? Also what about local agents ..i am more confused than ever...and a little worried

 

[El Gordo]

Not an owner so perhaps I shouldn't be here either but we want to come to PP every year and we want to rent an apartment !!!!!!

People who want to holiday in Mallorca can possibly present a more convincing argument for the provision of legal apartments to rent. So you should be making your views heard.

Thanks

 

[Papillon]

I think the comments of the "renters" are vital in this discussion, it's only when we hear about their genuine concerns and possible intentions in future years that the scale of the problem will become patently clear.

AI works in places like the Dominican Republic where eating out is questionable at best but in a developed island like Mallorca, with such a diverse choice of restaurants, AI is a death blow.

Sadly if the hotels get their way on rentals they will start feeding their clients the usual bland food and unbranded drinks and the downward slide will continue unchecked.

Just seen your previous post El Gordo, El Presidente Papillon sounds good for starters!! Thanks

 

[CathB]

Well i know that if the rental option was removed then we along with many others would have to rethink as there are so few choices..Hotels would not be our choice neither would apartment complexes such as Villa Concha..

 

[Rudi]

I purchased an apartment in a private residential block as advertised by the constructor and estate agent.It maybe that the same agent also sold to people with a 'nudge and a wink' that they could rent even though it was and is illegal.Other people on this thread do not mention lawyers who act in the purchases -all lawyers would have informed prospective purchasers that it was illegal to commercially rent so I wonder whether many purchasers either did not consult an independent lawyer or even had a lawyer at all - caveat emptor!You can not ignore legal advice and then expect to be treated as a special case. Papillion talks of 'choice' what is meant is that he wants choice but I have no choice but to endure commercial renters with the disruption that goes with it. Owners who want to rent apartments should buy in communities where this is legal - I believe that Flora and Tamarelles are 2 such establishments that have tourist licences.

 

[Mark]

I wonder who now might buy?

People looking for a bargain property for family use rather than renting out.

 

[Mark]

Not an owner so perhaps I shouldnt be here either but we want to come to PP every year and we want to rent an apartment !!!!!

Same here although we rent villas about 3 times per year, if I can't rent our own private holiday space we wont visit any more.

Hope this is sorted out for renters and owners or the whole of Majorca is going to lose out on a lot of revenue and I certainly wont be staying in an AI Hotel !!!

I would not stay in All Inclusive even if it was free, imagine what it would be like if it was free....

Also most of the AI hotels in Mallorca look so old like something from the 1970's

Just look at the Alcudia mile area, not pretty is it.

Other countries that have AI such as Tunisia have lower AI prices, better weather, higher quality 4 and 5 star hotels and they have camels
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=t...2y7AaOu4GIAw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=963

If someone really wanted to spend all week eating hotel food every day and standing in queues for breakfast they would be better in Tunisia or some other country in my opinion.

If the hoteliers want people in AI they need to demolish some of the concrete jungle and build some new high quality hotels.

 

[animagic21]

We are finding this thread quite worrying! Having visited PP five times over the last 6 months and always renting apartments, it would be a disaster for us if the rental sector collapses.

Over the last 21 years we have been regular visitors, first with a young family and now with grown up children and grandchildren. We eat out, visit many different places, rent cars and contribute entirely to the economy.

To take away our flexibility would probably resort in our having to choose another holiday destination, thereby removing our part of Pollensa and Majorca's revenue. I appreciate that our contribution may be small, but if other people feel the same as us then it could have a significant impact.

I wonder if this matter has been discussed with the restaurant, bar and shop owners? Surely there should be free choice available.

Finally, I can appreciate that there maybe problems with some families who rent apartments on residential blocks. However we have always treated the properties as if they were our own and treat the neighbours with respect. We have considered buying an apartment but are concerned that the authorities could alter the rules for foreign owners, which is why we prefer to rent. A close family member has encountered difficulties for ten years now, with a villa they bought on the Spanish mainland, which also affects our decision.

I really hope that common sense will prevail here!!! We would be happy to support any other "action" group!!