The Balearic Governmentin collaboration with the Ibiza Town Hall and the Local Police, has carried out an exhaustive inspection campaign in six subsidized housing developments (VPO) in the municipality, managing to detect nine possible cases of irregular rentals. The operation, which took place over two days, highlights the irregularities affecting access to affordable housing, a problem of growing concern on the island.
Irregularities detected during inspections
In the Albarca Street development, the inspectors discovered a case in which a subsidized housing unit was being used both for renting rooms and for vacation tourism. The rooms were offered at a price of 700 euros each, in clear violation of the regulations in force. In another building, neighbors reported evidence of similar practices related to tourist rentals.
The rest of the cases centered on owners offering homes at prices above the legal maximum allowed or, in one particular case, without even having a formalized contract. These practices not only violate regulations, but also hinder access to affordable housing for those who need it most.
Exemplary sanctions to combat fraud
Potential offenders could face penalties ranging from €3,000 to €30,000, depending on the seriousness of the infringements. In addition, other amounts calculated on the basis of the amounts improperly charged could be added to these amounts. For example, if an owner has charged a monthly overcharge of 100 euros for a year, the fine could be around 5,000 euros. In more serious cases, such as charging an additional 500 euros per month for five years, the penalty could reach the legal maximum of 30,000 euros.
Case review and follow-up
The Ibiza Town Hall, through its Town Planning department, will review the infringements detected in order to assess possible additional penalties for change of use of subsidized housing. These penalties could reach up to 75% of the market value of the property in question, according to local regulations. To carry out these inspections, the operation involved three inspectors from the Govern and four agents from the Local Police, who worked together to ensure the success of the operation.
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