The illegal tourist rental continues to be one of the most serious problems in Ibiza, and now, the central government has put concrete figures on the table. According to a report by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, more than 1,500 apartments on the island are being rented without a license through digital platforms, representing more than half of the 2,512 tourist apartments detected in Ibiza.
These data are part of a Balearic-wide investigation, which has identified 7,000 illegal apartments throughout the archipelago. However, the case of Ibiza is particularly worrying, as the proliferation of these rentals has had a direct impact on the shortage of housing for residents and has pushed rental prices to unsustainable levels.
A blow against residential housing in Ibiza
The Consell Insular de Ibiza has described this report as a confirmation of the problem suffered by the island, where the lack of control over tourist rentals has allowed many homes to be used as clandestine businesses, instead of being used for long-term rentals for residents.
The island president, Vicent Marí, has pointed out that this information will serve to reinforce the shock plan against illegal renting, which is already underway in collaboration with the municipalities and the central government.
“The support of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs will allow us to intensify surveillance and apply more forceful measures against fraudulent ads on digital platforms, which are doing so much damage to housing in Ibiza,” said Marí.
What measures are being taken to curb illegal renting?
The Consell de Ibiza has launched an action plan that includes penalties for owners who rent without a license, more rigorous inspections and a thorough monitoring of digital platforms to prevent them from continuing to promote unregulated apartments.
In addition, the involvement of other administrations, such as the Balearic Government and the central government, has been requested in order to increase the resources allocated to the fight against illegal renting, a practice that continues to increase despite attempts to regulate it.
Meanwhile, Ibiza’s residents continue to suffer the consequences: exorbitant rental prices, housing shortages and an increasingly inaccessible market for those in need of a home on the island.
