The effects of "illegal" renting.

[sws97sdg]

I emailed the owner of the apartment we rent, they said it was ok as they don't advertise through an agent, or online, only directly with the renters. I think they're panicking as well as the mortgage was mentioned. We rent for 23 days so if the apartment was available we'd go for the 30 days no problem. The other thing is I don't want to fall out with the owner and cancel, no money has been paid, as hopefully it will be sorted after the 12 months review and certain areas will be deemed tourist for apartments, or is that just wishful thinking. Remaining desperately confused.

I think there are a large number of people from renters, restaurant, bar and shop owners who also are hoping that this will be sorted out once they deem areas suitable for tourists, Pollensa must be one of them, because unlike lots of resorts, there is not enough hotel beds or apartment complexes to cover everyone who wants to come here!!

Also worth remembering that this is an 'open forum' so it would be worth not sharing details of anything you wouldn't want anyone else to see.

It is also very clear now that Zelda was very wise to remove advertising for private rentals from PP.com when she did, although unpopular with many members at the time, very wise indeed as it turned out now!

 

[CharlieV]

We've been home a week now and I had started to plan next year's trip but already noticed a lot of our favourite apartments have either 'disappeared' from the websites or are showing as fully booked all summer 2018, which seems unbelievable. Have to say reading all this has made me nervous about booking for 2018 and we have now made the decision to holiday elsewhere next year
It's a sad situation.

 

[copper]

We are just sitting tight and seeing what happens

Think it will blow over as tourists are so important If they did license some apartments the amount of income they would gain from people paying for the licence and then having to declare income and pay taxes on the rental income would be considerable Cant imagine they will go any further than checking on the rental compainies and also if anyone " informs " on anyone

Were any apartments ever given licences ? One we used to rent many years ago that was sold I thought had a licence ?? No paperwork kept so cant check

We are fortunate belonging to this forum as most people are going to be completely unaware of all this going on

I was also thinking it was a good move taking rentals off the website though I was disappointed at the time as they were definately the most comprehensive adverts we have ever seen !

 

[rebel]

HI All
What a mess,
I think the hotel lobby have stitched up everybody from apartment owners / independent restaurants / cleaners / car hire etc. through all inclusive holidays leaving themselves and a limited amount of villas for rental.
If I was a independent restaurant owner would I sign a new lease for next year I think not, it will be interesting and possibly sad to see how many don't open next year and this will only lead to less work for local workers.
To add to this the problems with the airports,
I would think very hard before I booked a apartment for next year as it will probably fall through due to apartments being removed due to the fear of fines.
The airlines know what the outcome of this will be and will reduce the flight numbers for next year selling what is needed to the all inclusive hotels making it harder and more expensive to fly independently.
I think if your deciding a holiday or to purchase in Spain there is now a bit more to think about than just exchange rates.

We purchased our first apartment in the port twenty odd years ago, then decided to sell after five years and purchased a holiday cottage back in the uk.
Then out of the blue the port was calling us to go back so decided to sell and go back to the port, we had a great time as it was the best place on the planet to go for holidays, as it turns out now big mistake.
We are lucky no mortgage on the property and only used it for us and our children and grand kids so no renting.
Due to ill health in the family we have been advised we cannot travel abroad anymore so what do we do.
Options open to us for the apartment.
Holiday rental. NO due to the new law.
Long term rental ? NO due to the law making it hard to remove a bad tenant which could turn out to be a nightmare than leaving it empty.
Sell the apartment ? If you can get some one interested with all what is going on with the new holiday laws,Brexit etc., It would now be a miracle to sell without giving it away.
Our apartment is going to be one of probably thousands of apartments left empty throughout the season if that's what the Spanish government wan't they are very short sighted.
And they say we have shot ourself in the foot over Brexit.

Rebel

 

[Rosie34]

HI All
What a mess,
I think the hotel lobby have stitched up everybody from apartment owners / independent restaurants / cleaners / car hire etc. through all inclusive holidays leaving themselves and a limited amount of villas for rental.
If I was a independent restaurant owner would I sign a new lease for next year I think not, it will be interesting and possibly sad to see how many don't open next year and this will only lead to less work for local workers.
To add to this the problems with the airports,
I would think very hard before I booked a apartment for next year as it will probably fall through due to apartments being removed due to the fear of fines.
The airlines know what the outcome of this will be and will reduce the flight numbers for next year selling what is needed to the all inclusive hotels making it harder and more expensive to fly independently.
I think if your deciding a holiday or to purchase in Spain there is now a bit more to think about than just exchange rates.

We purchased our first apartment in the port twenty odd years ago, then decided to sell after five years and purchased a holiday cottage back in the uk.
Then out of the blue the port was calling us to go back so decided to sell and go back to the port, we had a great time as it was the best place on the planet to go for holidays, as it turns out now big mistake.
We are lucky no mortgage on the property and only used it for us and our children and grand kids so no renting.
Due to ill health in the family we have been advised we cannot travel abroad anymore so what do we do.
Options open to us for the apartment.
Holiday rental. NO due to the new law.
Long term rental ? NO due to the law making it hard to remove a bad tenant which could turn out to be a nightmare than leaving it empty.
Sell the apartment ? If you can get some one interested with all what is going on with the new holiday laws,Brexit etc., It would now be a miracle to sell without giving it away.
Our apartment is going to be one of probably thousands of apartments left empty throughout the season if that's what the Spanish government wan't they are very short sighted.
And they say we have shot ourself in the foot over Brexit.

Rebel

My thoughts exactly on the possible (likely) outcome.

 

[Papillon]

Have cancelled all my guests (friends) for next year and booked myself 2 weeks in Croatia, will put my apartment up for sale. At least the falling pound would make it less painful in accepting a low offer.

Not prepared to be treated like a criminal any longer by political ankle biters.

 

[Lorenzo]

Have cancelled all my guests (friends) for next year and booked myself 2 weeks in Croatia, will put my apartment up for sale. At least the falling pound would make it less painful in accepting a low offer.

Not prepared to be treated like a criminal any longer by political ankle biters.

So sorry to hear that Papillon.
I wonder if it might be worth waiting a while to see if there is any fine-tuning to this recent law. Maybe some sense will prevail in due course....

 

[pips]

Just checked out various booking sites for hotels, we go for 3 weeks and would need a mortgage to go to any of them. Even 2 weeks is very expensive especially as flights and eating out still has to be considered. A villa is totally out as there are only 2 of us. I really think a lot of regulars and people just considering PP for their annual holiday will be totally put off by the cost and go elsewhere for a change. I really feel I can't take the risk of the apartment even though they're all holiday rentals so no one to complain.

 

[Rosie34]

Just checked out various booking sites for hotels, we go for 3 weeks and would need a mortgage to go to any of them. Even 2 weeks is very expensive especially as flights and eating out still has to be considered. A villa is totally out as there are only 2 of us. I really think a lot of regulars and people just considering PP for their annual holiday will be totally put off by the cost and go elsewhere for a change. I really feel I can't take the risk of the apartment even though they're all holiday rentals so no one to complain.

Pips - there are just 2 of us as well and we always rent a villa in summer - there are lots of 2/3 bedroom ones to choose from (don't have to use all the bedrooms!) and maybe not much more expensive than an apartment. Villas are nice in summer when there are long warm evenings! October is our apartment time - but looks like we will have to look elsewhere in future or maybe go further afield.

 

[Disorderly]

Isn't it such a shame that so many PP regulars are reacting to the rental licence debacle, and rising prices, by planning to go elsewhere. I suspect that the "authorities " will come to deeply regret the position they've taken. There will be lots of apartments for seasonal workers to rent long term......and no work for them to do with so few properties for tourists to rent. Political dogma overrides common sense. Sounds familiar?

 

[Sparky]

I think it is still possible that licenses will be issued eventually in the Pollensa area. Read this report https://majorcadailybulletin.com/ne...tion-vacant-tourist-accommodation-places.html

 

[Gommar Goffer]

I think it is still possible that licenses will be issued eventually in the Pollensa area. Read this report https://majorcadailybulletin.com/ne...tion-vacant-tourist-accommodation-places.html

I read somewhere else (MDB I think) that Pollensa council has no intension to issue any new licences. I also think that the number of available places (i.e. the mumber that could be licenced across the island) must be far more than the 47000 that they state.

 

[Sparky]

I read somewhere else (MDB I think) that Pollensa council has no intension to issue any new licences. I also think that the number of available places (i.e. the mumber that could be licenced across the island) must be far more than the 47000 that they state.

They cannot issue any new licenses for a year, until the local councils have done their zoning, then some licenses can be issued as long as properties meet the criteria. I do feel this area is special in that it has few hotels and hope common sense prevails when they realise the damage this law will do to the local economy. Regulation is needed but so is tourism, surely a balance can be achieved .

 

[rebel]

Hi All
Even when and if the zoning of the areas are completed in 12 months the owners will then have to apply for licenses then have the apartment inspections done, then the issuing of the licenses 47,000 in Majorca ? that will be by the end of the 2018 season at the earliest so two years minimum of this nonsense would have caused so much damage due to loss of trade to the independent shops, restaurants,and loss of work for all in the tourist industry, this will have a terrible affect on the port due to the high numbers of apartments rented out in the area with few hotels.

 

[favie]

I do feel this area is special in that it has few hotels and hope common sense prevails when they realise the damage this law will do to the local economy. Regulation is needed but so is tourism, surely a balance can be achieved .

I can't imagine what 2018 will be like in PP (and of course everywhere on the Balearics) just thinking of all the very many private rentals on the Pinewalk and Bellresguard alone .....hundreds of others. I don't know how businesses etc will survive.....I could weep at the very thought!

 

[Sparky]

I can't imagine what 2018 will be like in PP (and of coarse everywhere on the Balearics) just thinking of all the very many private rentals on the Pinewalk and Bellresguard alone .....hundreds of others. I don't know how businesses etc will survive.....I could weep at the very thought!

Me too Favie........very worrying times for everyone whether they live, work or holiday in the Balearics but especially in our beloved PP .

 

[cumberland8]

My local statistician (council employee) assures me that there are just short of four thousand lets in in PP alone, I am also reliably informed informed that it will not affect our Spanish compatriots as there are so many loopholes which will make it impossible to enforce.
Watch this space

 

[Papillon]

Andrews blog today pretty well sums up the present situation.

alcudiapollensa

Out of interest cumberland8 three of the 6 apartments in my block 3 are Spanish owners who rent out their properties and they have never been concerned about the impending legislation, one thing is for sure is that if and when new licences are issued they certainly will not be at the back of the queue.

The sad thing is that after reading some of the comments on here and Facebook there is vindictive minority who already have the "informants" email address in their smart phone contacts list.

I really hope that this doesn't turn into an us and them confrontation between Spanish and British, renters and non renters but sadly all the signs are appearing on a daily basis.

 

[Dunk]

We've been coming for some time , but as there are 5 of us a villa has always been an option, However we booked to come out Over New Year as the kids are a little older. At that time of year we dont need a pool and wanted to be on the sea front, so we booked an apartment through Booking.com. Been following this story on here an in the press, so decided to contact Booking.com and the owner. Not had a response from Booking.com, but had a very quick reply from the owner as below :

...because of the new law i'll have to remove the ad for 1 year but i'll keep all the reservations made until now. There will be no new reservations but no one confirmed will be cancelled.

Was going to cancel and book a Villa but decided to stick with it

Im sure when they all eventually remove their heads from wherever they are stuck!!! it will all calm down. But the worry is the damage it will do in the short term to local business, property prices and Villa rental prices next year.

 

[clinz]

'Tourist' Apartment Licenses

Am just back from yet another great 2 week stay in PP. It was the first time we have used a private apartment (Bellresguard) having previously always been in the Playa Mar.
It was great to have the extra space and home comforts and have already put down a deposit for next year....however, the more I read about the potential limitations on the use of private apartments for short term leases next year the more I fear I wont be back. Given the volume of tourism income these will provide it does from afar seem a little arduous, but would welcome any feedback people have on the practicalities of it all (our owner says she is currently investigating).