What is the exact position about apartments in 2018

[Tangoman]

2018 and Future Years

Hi All

I can see that everything that is happening/not happening in PP is so, so confusing for residents and tourists alike - not our fault, just local/national poiticians playing the game. So hard to understand their logic!!

But, can I ask that we, who all LOVE PP, otherwise we would not be members of this wonderful Forum, try to remain positive and support each other. I also am currently searching other places on the Internet for 2018, but just realized, that is a bit defeatist! So F**k it, I will not give in, and will do my best to find a solution.

I fully understand, for example, Pips and the other Lady who were asked to lie about their booking, if asked - I know I wouldn't do it!! I do not know how, but can we please all try to pull together to get the best result from this situation??

Regards and Good Luck to All

P.S. Pollensafan, the run is on October 11th - Maybe the money raised, from sponsorship, etc., will save the day!!!!!!

 

[Papillon]

More Politics

Whilst you have to be careful what you read on Wiki, the following link gives a good indication as to why we are in the position we are now.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majorca_(Parliament_of_the_Balearic_Islands_constituency)

Basically until 2015 the People's Party had a clear majority with 19 of the 33 parliamentary seats and whilst talking about reform of the touristic rental market they did very little.

After the 2015 election it can be seen that there was a hung parliament with no party holding an overall majority however a number of left wing parties amalgamated under the Mes leadership and several more extreme parties, some who were anti capitalist, formed the new Podemos party.

It can be seen from the breakdown of the 33 seats in Parliament that these smaller parties wield enormous power.

Enter Airbnb which was the trigger for the latest extreme legislation. Until they emerged many families especially in Palma would subsidise their income by renting rooms out to seasonal workers on a bed and breakfast basis during the summer. Airbnb changed all that by opening up this market to short term touristic rentals so you cannot blame the home owners for taking advantage of the increased rates they could charge.

This of course became the focus of Mes and Podemos who were against the Massification of the island and who wanted to prevent seasonal workers being priced out of the market by over commercialisation.

Unfortunately, because the touristic rental of private apartments had never been really addressed, more owners were being fined for renting their properties so many sought to use the loophole in the law which in essence allowed all short term rentals to be classed as domestic under certain conditions. (I truth these rentals never offered accommodation to seasonal workers)

This situation was unacceptable for Mes and Podemos so they pushed for a complete ban on unlicensed rental until a solution could be found. The 30 day rule closed the domestic rental loophole and several other well documented conditions were introduced at the same time.

We await the solution which involves zoning and the issue of new licences to tourist accommodation that will conform to the strict conditions of the licence application. So we are now just sitting and waiting and hoping that this hung parliament can come to some sort of agreement that will allow sensible legislation to resolve the impasse.

Personally I think we are in for a long wait and many will have take some extreme pain until the new elections in 2019 which may define the future of the island.

It's a nice thought to call for us all to pull together but in reality we are standing outside the locked doors of parliament in the rain with no umbrella waiting for a few crumbs to be thrown our way. As non residents we are at the bottom the pecking order and can only hope that some of the big hitters in the business can challenge the latest legislation in the ECJ.

We live in hope.

 

[scotslizzy]

Just Awful

As someone who has been coming to PP every year for just over 30 years I cannot believe this situation. I appreciate that we should all try to remain positive but I am looking at a cruise for June which is our normal time for coming to PP.

I know it is defeatist but when looking forward to booking your holiday you do not want uncertainty as your holiday is supposed to be about relaxing not stressing that everything will turn out ok. If it was only two of us I would go to a hotel as we normally did but as we need an apartment for three of us it would be too expensive for this as an option .

If the situation changes then great but in the meantime people will be looking (just like us) for alternatives .I actually cant believe I am doing this but as we are now both retired I will of course keep hoping that the powers that be change their minds and we can then book for PP later in 2018.

Scotslizzy

 

[jodave]

As I normally do mid Oct, start to plan for this years Pollenca area trip. Tried to find the apartment we have used for many years (to check availability) but it seems to have disappeared, so email to the owner to check. They have decided not to rent this year because of the law changes and advised me to be very careful taking rentals where you have to be "family". They are waiting the dust to settle and hopefully 2019 will bring a solution. They have been renting for many years and have knowledge of the market but will not take the risk.

I post this not to add to the woe but to pass on the advice I have received.

We normally do a week a the coast / port & week in a countryside villa, but looks like it will be 2 weeks now, going Sept (as we now can) to keep cost down. The villa has a licence but think this one of the few I have stayed at that has !

Hope this can be of some help.

 

[favie]

Bookings tumble and no rentals appeal: the week in Majorca

Rentals' hopes dashed
Hopes that the Madrid government, specifically Álvaro Nadal, will come to the aid of owners of holiday rental accommodation appeared to have been dashed. The deadline for the national government lodging an appeal against the Balearic rentals legislation was 31 October. It passed, and no appeal had been made.

I have usually booked up for next years holiday in PP by now....with our direct flights to Palma released recently at £199 for my dates (and I had a £50.00 voucher to use!) looks like I won't be able to take advantage of a great price and regretfully have to miss it next year. Hotels/Aparthotels all seem pretty full now but like a lot of visitors, I prefer private apts. and was hoping Madrid would step in but hope is slowly disappearing after reading the above from MB.
Looking at Apartments for sale in PP yesterday and sad to see three that we have had great holidays in and many that I have inquired about over the years all up for sale.

 

[animagic21]

Feel very sad about it. Staying at Pension Bella Bellavista in March, but then nothing. No rentals means no visit. Still feel PP will flourish, but for a more elite class. Understand a lot of people will be happy about this. Think it will be bye bye for us.

 

[Deanscroft]

At a meeting last week the Mayor of Pollenca stated that the entire Pollenca / Puerto Pollenca area would be proposed as a area allowing tourist rentals as to divide it up street by street would be a nightmare to administer.

 

[scotslizzy]

Well lets hope they do something

I am still hopeful for Sept 18 as we have made the decision not to come in June (was looking /hoping for 3 bedroom apartment on sea front) .Have now booked alternative holiday .

I do not want to miss out on my yearly pilgrimage to PP.

Scotslizzy

 

[majprop]

There is a meeting in the Club Pollensa, in the main square of the old town tomorrow evening, starting at 18:00hrs to aprox 20:00hrs being given by Javier Blas who is layer and regarded as an authority on the subject of rentals, the meeting is being given in English. I can assure you that it will be very interesting.

 

[Bekki]

Looking forward to hearing the outcome of this meeting.

 

[lollipop]

As the zoning areas have not been announced or agreed yet by government or the paperwork available to apply for licences I'm not sure exactly what they can tell you .

 

[Julian Simms]

I went to this meeting, and quite frankly, it was a bit of a waste of time.

The two experts spent over an hour reading aloud the details (so far unconfirmed ) of the new law, which I presume most of the people present knew about already.

A gentleman at the front asked two interesting questions, one of which was to enquire about how would the Consell (local government, NOT the local council ) decide who got a licence if these were over subscribed (in other words, would someone with a Spanish surname have more "luck" than a Mr Smith), and could they confirm that friends and family could stay whenever the owner pleased.

They could not answer the first question, saying that people will have to wait and see, and the answer to the second one was, yes, no problem at all as long as no money changed hands.

How that is supposed to be proved was left unanswered.

 

[favie]

Feel very sad about it. Staying at Pension Bella Bellavista in March, but then nothing. No rentals means no visit. Still feel PP will flourish, but for a more elite class. Understand a lot of people will be happy about this. Think it will be bye bye for us.

Yes, very sad. "More elite class" the visitor who is able to afford some of the very, very expensive apartments in the sought after areas who eat out most nights if not every night will surely be missed in 2018. Hotels will do extremely well without a doubt but like you, no rentals means no visit.

 

[animagic21]

The Tourist Minister, Barcello has stated it must be 'quality not quantity' Feel upset that we are apparently not quality. Been staying in apartments for 25 yrs. Have always respected residents. Being penalised for others.

 

[Tommo]

The Tourist Minister, Barcello has stated it must be 'quality not quantity' Feel upset that we are apparently not quality. Been staying in apartments for 25 yrs. Have always respected residents. Being penalised for others.

The cheeky so n so. How dare he say that?

 

[sws97sdg]

If you haven't considered it yet, or thought it too expensive, have you tried looking at villas, I have and found the one we rented a few years ago. We had great times there and in fact it works out cheaper than the apartment we usually rent, £699 per week in September. Most if not all have tourist licenses, so no worries on that issues, worth a look if you don't fancy a hotel.

 

[animagic21]

Thank you. Will look into that.

 

[El Gordo]

Published by a PP resident and someone involved in the Rental market, on Facebook on 16th Nov, on "I Love Puerto Pollensa" page:

Video of the meeting in Pollensa, details of the new rental laws, if you have 1hr 45 mins to watch this,

if not then (here is her summary)

1) you have to be a resident to apply for a License next year,
2) your property must be over 5 years old,
3) there will be 40,000 new Licenses granted to cover the whole Island,
4) everyone? (or a majority) in your block must agree and this must be logged with the Town Hall,
5) you will also have to list names and Passport numbers of every holiday maker and submit to the Police Station,
6) if you are granted a new License then you will only be able to rent for 60 days per year.

Good Luck everyone If you already hold a License then the above does not apply, you can carry on renting as before.

Have a look at the page to see all the comments/discussion.

 

[annascotland]

Thank you for this information Gordo, we are getting seriously worried now as have booked an apartment and paid 50% deposit. We need to get flights booked (which are very expensive for next summer) and worried that our apartment booking might be cancelled at the last minute. Shortage of accommodation might mean we were in Majorca with nowhere to stay. Any advice on what to do next will be most welcome.

 

[Rockape]

I'm wondering how many people have read the item on the seemallorca.com/property/letting website and what you thought of it.