Everything is shaken when, in November, the owner informs them that he will not renew the contract. «It leaves my family in a situation of total uncertainty,» he says in a letter sent to a public housing agency to which La Voz de Ibiza has had access.

«Similar apartments start at €2,500.»

From that notice, the pilgrimage through real estate portals and agencies begins. What Monica finds draws a familiar landscape for many Ibizan families: skyrocketing prices and almost impossible conditions.

He reports that, after weeks of searching , apartments similar to his only appear from 2,500 euros, and in «most cases even 2,800 euros or more». In addition to that, there are properties for rent only for companies, with entry conditions that he describes as «unacceptable»: months in advance, agency fees, very high salary requirements, bank guarantees or requirements «comparable to the granting of a mortgage».

Meanwhile, her salary reality goes the other way. Monica explains that in these five years her salary has not gone up «not even 10%», while, in her experience, rents in Eivissa have increased «more than 50%».«It makes it impossible to afford decent housing for working families like mine,» she complains.

All this, he argues, places his household in «a scenario of high risk of residential exclusion», because «we cannot afford the current rents nor is there any real availability of affordable housing».

Formal request: to be recognized as a family at risk of homelessness

In her letter, Monica does not limit herself to describing the situation. She asks that the administration officially register her case and consider her as a family unit at risk of homelessness.

It requests to be included in access to public or subsidized housing, in residential emergency programs and in housing alternatives for families with dependent minors, in order to prevent them from being «in a situation of homelessness».

It also calls for an investigation into whether the current context of the rental market in Ibiza, with «abusive prices and unacceptable conditions», may be speculative practices or contrary to the right to decent housing, and that, if necessary, the case be referred to the competent body.

Monica also requests that she be informed in writing of any resources, assistance or options available to her family.

«We don’t share apartments because we are normal families, with children.»

In the final part of the letter, the Ibiza resident raises the tone and generalizes her situation to that of many other working families on the island. «We working families cannot afford rents that double or triple our income,» she stresses, before pointing to a very common reality: overcrowding and the obligation to share housing with strangers.

«We don’t share apartments because we are normal families, with children, who need stability,» he insists. In his opinion, the situation has become, «for all practical purposes, an abuse that puts our dignity and our basic right to housingat risk.»

A challenge to public decision-makers

The letter closes with a kind of challenge, addressed to the heads and technicians of the administrations responsible for housing. Monica invites them to do the same exercise as she did:

He proposes that they carry out «just one week of fictitious housing search in Ibiza» to see «first hand the desperate situation» that many families live in. And he warns about what may come when the tourist season approaches: «And we are in December; when the season starts to approach, I prefer not to imagine the nonsense that is coming».

While the landlord prepares not to renew her contract and the market offers her only rents of 2,500 euros and up, Monica’s letter is recorded as one more testimony to the growing gap between wages and rents in Ibiza, a gap that, as she herself summarizes, threatens to expel from the residential map those who sustain the day to day life of the island.

La entrada «We can’t afford 2,500 euros»: the cry of an Ibiza family drowning in rent hell se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.

The tender is already available on the public sector procurement platform, where interested companies can submit their bids until April 8.

A regulated rental model with specific conditions

The City Council has transferred the surface right of two plots of 3,000 square meters for 75 years, after which both the land and the buildings will revert to public ownership.

The company awarded the contract will be in charge of drawing up the list of applicants, under the supervision of a Joint Commission that will ensure compliance with the established requirements.

The dwellings will be for regulated rental and will be between 51 and 106 square meters in size. All will be equipped with a full bathroom (toilets, shower, shower screen, bath bench and mirror) and kitchen with appliances (refrigerator, washing machine, oven, stove, sink and dishwasher).

The execution period for the works will be three years from the beginning of the project.

Housing eligibility requirements

Those who meet the following requirements are eligible for this housing:

• Tax residence in Spain.
• Not owning a home in the country.
• To be registered in Santa Eulària des Riu at least 10 of the last 20 years.

In addition, additional points will be awarded to applicants based on their seniority in the census and their family situation. Those between 25 and 40 years of age or over 65 will receive 7 extra points, while each dependent minor will add 1 additional point.

Housing characteristics and rental prices

The technical specifications state that the properties should be distributed as follows:

• 40% of the apartments will be between 51 and 60 sqm, with rents starting at 593 euros/month (for 1 or 2 people).
• 40% of the dwellings will be 70 to 82 m², with rents starting at 830 euros/month (for 3 or 4 people).
• 20 % will be homes of 90 to 106 m², with rents starting at 1,078 euros/month (for 4 or more inhabitants).

Sustainability and local development criteria

Companies bidding for the tender must include measures to reduce environmental impact, prioritizing the use of sustainable materials and improvements in energy efficiency. The incorporation of collaborative spaces, such as bicycle workshops or charging points for electric vehicles, and the adaptation of housing for people with reduced mobility or sensory disabilities will also be valued.

In addition, 20% of the total budget for the work must be allocated to local suppliers, with the aim of promoting the island’s economic development.

Next steps

Once the tender is awarded, the construction company will have three years to complete the works. With this initiative, the Santa Eulària des Riu City Council seeks to increase the supply of affordable housing and respond to the growing demand for regulated rentals on the island.

La entrada Affordable housing in Ibiza: Santa Eulària puts out to tender 120 rent-regulated apartments se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.

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Context and municipal declarations

Access to housing is one of the most persistent problems on the island. According to the councilman of Economic Promotion, Finance and Economy, Miguel Tur, these aids are a direct response to this problem: «We know that many families face great difficulties in accessing decent housing, so we have worked for this measure to be implemented in an agile and effective way. However, this is only one step in a structural problem that requires more solutions».

Compatibility and new criteria

The subsidies are compatible with other subsidies from public administrations, and this year new features have been introduced, such as the updating of the income limits for applying for support. These modifications are intended to reflect the current reality of the real estate market and to extend the scope of the aid to a greater number of families in a situation of vulnerability. Despite the progress achieved with this call, the City Council points out that much remains to be done to ensure access to decent housing in Santa Eulària. These measures, although necessary, hardly palliate a problem that affects more and more residents on the island.

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La entrada More than 169 families receive help from the City Council of Santa Eulària to pay their rent se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.

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.

• Illegal rentals in the spotlight: Santa Eulària and the Consell de Ibiza announce strong measures

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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• A private individual’s complaint through the Green Line leads to a million-dollar fine for illegal renting in Ibiza

La entrada Fines of up to 30,000 euros for owners who rent their homes in Ibiza above the legal price se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.

• One out of every three properties in Ibiza is empty or almost unused despite high demand

A recent report by Idealista has revealed that the Balearic Islands lead the luxury (over 1 million euros) and ultra-luxury (over 3 million euros) real estate market in Spain. Specifically, of the more than 45 thousand listings of homes for sale over one million euros, the Balearic Islands has 11,296, which implies more than 24%. If we move to the ultra-luxury segment, there are 9,700 properties advertised nationwide, of which 3,465 are in the Balearic Islands (35.7%).

In contrast, other provinces such as Malaga and Alicante also have a high concentration in the luxury segment, with 27.84% and 14.71% respectively, although none of them reach the prominence of the Balearic Islands in ultra-luxury.

At Madridluxury homes represent the largest share of 13,06% of the national total, while the ultra-luxury segment accounted for 9,77%. Barcelona, por su parte, cuenta con un 12,37% de las viviendas de lujo y un 5,36% de las de ultralujo, consolidándose como otro polo importante del mercado.

Luxury and ultra-luxury housing by city

• Ibiza (city): 1,429 luxury homes(3.93% nationally) and 628 ultra-luxury homes(6.44% nationally).
• Madrid (city): 4,003 luxury homes(11.00% nationally) and 749 ultra-luxury homes(7.69% nationally).
• Barcelona (city): 1,896 luxury homes(5.21% nationally) and 211 ultra-luxury homes(2.17% nationally).
• Malaga (city): 414 luxury homes(1.14% nationally) and 14 ultra-luxury homes(0.14% nationally).
• Alicante (city): 279 luxury homes(0.77% nationally) and 30 ultra-luxury homes(0.31% nationally).

Ibiza vs. Madrid: a density comparison

Although Madrid surpasses Ibiza in absolute number of luxury and ultra-luxury properties, the capital lags behind in terms of density. The island concentrates more properties above 3 million euros per inhabitant, which reinforces its reputation as a flagship destination for luxury real estate. The relationship between luxury and access to housing in Ibiza is also evident. While Madrid offers more diversified housing options, the high prices in Ibiza make it difficult for local residents to access properties, generating a context of exclusion that directly impacts the rental market.

• The municipality of Ibiza with the most expensive rents in Spain

Ibiza has the most expensive rents in Spain

In addition to the high concentration of luxury homes in Ibiza, three of its municipalities have the most expensive rents in Spain, according to another report published by Idealista in early December. The ranking is led by Santa Eulària des Riu with an average rent of 4,237 euros per month, followed by Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid) with 3,783 euros per month. In third place is Sant Josep, with 3,483 euros per month. In fourth and fifth place are Vila, with 3,363 euros/month, and Calvià (Mallorca), with 3,136. These numbers reflect that, while luxury and ultra-luxury properties continue to attract buyers with high purchasing power, local residents face an increasingly inaccessible market.

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La entrada Ibiza: the paradise of ultra-luxury properties worth more than 3 million euros se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.

Balearic Islands and Barcelona: two sides of the same coin

Data from the Rental Barometer reveal that the Balearic Islands and Barcelona share the leadership in rental prices, at over 1,600 euros per month. However, the market dynamics in both provinces present different nuances. While Barcelona faces a drastic reduction in supply, with 9,284 fewer properties available in the third quarter, the Balearic Islands maintains sustained pressure, with 119 interested parties per property in the first ten days of publication.

• The municipality of Ibiza with the most expensive rents in Spain

The case of Barcelona, where demand reaches almost 400 interested parties per property, reflects a highly competitive market, driven by the declaration of stressed areas and the proliferation of alternatives such as tourist rentals. In the Balearic Islands, although the situation is less extreme, the combination of tourism, supply limitations and an exclusive environment continues to drive up prices.

The most expensive municipalities to live in

Among the most expensive provinces to rent, the Balearic Islands not only stands out at the provincial level, but also in its municipalities. Santa Eulària, Sant Josep and Ibiza are among the towns with the highest rents in Spain.

In the national top, the Balearic Islands shares the leading position with Madrid (1,502 euros), Guipúzcoa (1,429 euros), Vizcaya (1,230 euros), Malaga (1,195 euros), Las Palmas (1,082 euros), Valencia (1,041 euros) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1,040 euros).

A crisis marked by a lack of supply

The rental market in the Balearic Islands reflects a structural problem: the supply fails to respond to a constantly growing demand.

The trend, far from stabilizing, shows that places such as the Balearic Islands and Barcelona continue to be epicenters of this problem. On the islands, the impact of tourism and restrictions on new housing construction further exacerbate the situation.

A call to action

With an average rental price that far exceeds the national average of 1,117 euros, the Balearic Islands shows the urgency of implementing solutions to balance the market. Meanwhile, locals and foreigners alike continue to face a constant challenge in their search for housing.

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La entrada The alarming data on the price of rents in the Balearic Islands se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.

Santa Eulària has the most expensive rents in Spain

With an average rental price of over 4,200 euros, Santa Eulària is positioned as the most expensive municipality in the whole country. Its real estate offer focuses on high value properties, many of them designed for an international and exclusive public. The natural environment, the iconic beaches and the quality of life make this town one of the most desirable, which raises prices considerably. On the other hand, Sant Josep ranks fourth nationally. This municipality combines its rural charm with renowned tourist enclaves, such as Cala d’Hort or Cala Conta, which has also influenced the average rental price. Finally, Ibiza, known for being the cultural and economic heart of the island, closes the top 5 with equally high prices.

• Where are the most expensive housing rents in Spain?

The municipalities with the most expensive rents in Spain

The list of municipalities with the highest rents reflects the strong concentration of high prices in the Balearic Islands. Below are the five most expensive municipalities according to the Idealista report:

• Santa Eulària (Ibiza): 4,237 euros/month.
• Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid): 3,783 euros/month.
• Sant Josep (Ibiza): 3,483 euros/month.
• Ibiza (Vila): 3,363 euros/month.
• Calvià (Mallorca): 3,136 euros/month.

This ranking highlights not only the predominance of the Balearic Islands, but also the contrast with other exclusive areas such as Pozuelo de Alarcón, in Madrid, and Calvià, in Mallorca. Although they share high prices, each municipality offers unique characteristics that explain their position on the list.

Demand continues to boom

While prices in municipalities in Ibiza reach record highs, other locations such as Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona and Madrid are among the most demanded at a national level. According to the report, this high demand, combined with a limited supply, puts significant pressure on the rental market, making access to housing difficult for many. The case of Ibiza, in particular, reflects how tourism, exclusivity and lack of supply contribute to a challenging real estate market, with prices continuing to rise. The trend demonstrates the need for policies that balance housing affordability with economic development in these high-demand regions.

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• Balearic Islands has one of the most expensive rents in Spain: what is the top 7?

La entrada The municipality of Ibiza with the most expensive rents in Spain se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.

Rent prices in Balearic Islands

The Balearic Islands ranks third in the national ranking with an average rental price of 17.6 euros per square meter in November 2024, according to data from Idealista. This increase represents a year-on-year increase of 9.8%, evidencing the stress in the region’s real estate market. Municipalities such as Ibiza stand out for far exceeding this figure, ranking among the places with the most expensive rents in the country. In addition, Balearic residents face one of the highest economic burdens, spending about 39.3% of their income on rent, well above the 35% recommended by the Bank of Spain. This scenario reflects a difficult reality for many residents, especially in a context where housing supply is limited and demand continues to grow.

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What drives prices in the Balearics?

The high cost of renting in the Balearic Islands responds to several factors specific to the region. Insularity plays a key role in limiting the capacity for urban expansion, which restricts the supply of housing. In addition, the strong dependence on tourism generates a high demand for both holiday and residential rentals, competing directly with the needs of local residents.

Furthermore, the attractiveness of the Balearic Islands as a destination for international workers and high net worth residents adds additional pressure to the market. Regulatory policies to limit the impact of tourist rentals have had a moderate effect, but have not been sufficient to stabilize prices in the residential market.

Rental prices by autonomous community

The nationwide analysis reveals that the Community of Madrid leads the ranking with an average price of 18.2 euros per square meter, followed by Catalonia with 17.8 euros per square meter. These two communities reflect a sustained behavior of high prices, particularly in the capital cities, where rents in Madrid and Barcelona easily exceed 20 euros per square meter in central areas.

On the other hand, the Balearic Islands is positioned as the most expensive island region, driven mainly by its tourist attraction and the high demand for short and long term housing. The Basque Country and the Canary Islands follow with average prices of 14.2 and 14 euros per square meter, respectively. These regions also face significant demand, although not at the level of the first three positions. In contrast, autonomous communities such as Andalusia and the Valencian Community offer more moderate prices, with averages of around 11 euros per square meter. However, within these communities there are large differences, with coastal provinces and provincial capitals showing higher prices than rural areas.

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La entrada Where are the most expensive housing rents in Spain? se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.

The cases of Ibiza and Formentera

• Ibiza has a total of 2,493 dwellings belonging to large holders, which represents 10.28% of the total housing stock in the municipality. Of this percentage, 5.73% (1,389) corresponds to holders of between 10 and 25 homes; 3.20% (777) to holders of between 25 and 100 homes, and 1.35% (337) to owners of more than 100 homes.

• Sant Antoni de Portmany has registered 862 properties in the hands of large property owners (7.48% of the total number of properties). 621 (5.39%) belong to holders of between 10 and 25 dwellings; 207 (1.8%) to holders of between 25 and 100 dwellings, and 34 (0.29%) to owners of more than 100 dwellings.
• Santa Eulària des Riu has 2,007 dwellings (11.53%) of large holders. Of this total, 751 (4.31%) belong to holders of between 10-25 dwellings, 597 (3.43%) to holders of between 25 and 100 dwellings, and 659 (3.79%) to holders of more than 100 dwellings.
• Sant Joan de Labritja has 378 dwellings (21.32%) of these characteristics, of which 93 (5.25%) correspond to owners of between 10 and 25 dwellings, 146 (8.23%) are owners of between 25 and 100, and 139 (7.84%) are owners of more than 100 residential properties.

• Sant Josep de sa Talaia is the least concentrated municipality according to these criteria, accumulating 437 dwellings (3.03%) in the hands of large holders. 1.92% (276) are owners of between 10 and 25 dwellings, 0.43% (62) are owners of between 25 and 100 dwellings, and the remaining 99 (0.69%) are owners with more than 100 residential properties.

• Finally, Formentera has 185 homes (7.04% of the municipality’s housing stock) in concentrated hands. Of this total, 102 (3.88%) are held by owners of between 10 and 25 homes, 68 (2.59%) by owners of between 25 and 100 homes, and the remaining 15 (0.57) by owners of more than 100 homes.

The concentration of housing in the Balearic Islands

As mentioned above, the Balearic Islands is one of the autonomous communities where more owners accumulate a large number of dwellings. The case of highest concentration in percentage terms is presented in the municipality of Sant Joan de Labritja (21.32%), followed by Es Mercadal (11.63%), Santa Eulària des Riu (11.53%), Eivissa (10.28%) and Alaior (9.49%). This means that only the island of Ibiza has 3 of the municipalities with the highest number of properties in the hands of large holders in the whole Balearic Islands. Moreover, these numbers are well above the national average of homes concentrated in a few owners (4.3% of the total stock and 8.9% of those available).

Housing and rental crisis

These statistics show another side of a well-known problem in the Pitiusas: the price of housing and rents. The Balearic Islands is positioned as the Spanish province where access to a house demands greater economic effort, both in purchase and rent, according to a reportAccording to an Idealista report published this November, the Balearic Islands is positioned as the Spanish province where accessing a home requires the greatest economic effort, both in terms of purchase and rent, according to a report published this November. A recent report highlights Santa Eulària and Calvià as two of the most expensive locations in the Balearic Islands to access a rental property. Specifically, buying a home on the islands requires allocating 46% of monthly income, while renting involves 52%, figures that far exceed the 30% recommended by experts. This effort has increased in the last year, with an increase of 3% for buying and 1% for renting. Palma leads the national rankings, being the capital where more family income is needed for both options, with 47% to buy and 48% to rent. At the national level, the Balearic Islands leads a trend of rising economic effort for housing, driven by the lack of supply and rising prices. In renting, it shares first place with Malaga, followed by provinces such as Barcelona and Valencia. In buying, it is followed by Malaga and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

La entrada Ibiza and Formentera owners: how many have more than 10, 25 and 100 properties? se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.

Ibiza price contrasts

The municipality of Ibiza city also reflects a rise in rent, with a year-on-year increase of 8.7%, which places the average price at 17.84 euros per square meter, consolidating its position as one of the most expensive areas of the Balearic Islands. On the contrary, in other municipalities of the island there have been significant drops in rental prices. In Santa Eulària, the value of homes for rent has decreased by 9.3%, while in Sant Josep the drop has been even more notable, reaching 13.7%. Both municipalities, however, maintain high prices, hovering around 20 euros per square meter, placing them among the most expensive areas of the archipelago together with Calvià, which reaches 21.4 euros per square meter.

Impact on the real estate market

The strong increase in municipalities such as Sant Antoni contrasts with the reductions observed in other areas, evidencing different dynamics within the Balearic real estate market. These variations create challenges for residents and workers, especially in municipalities where prices continue to rise, making it difficult to access affordable housing.

La entrada Sant Antoni becomes the municipality with the most expensive rent in the Balearics se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.