The Canamunt Residents Association in Palma has denounced real-estate harassment to which some residents are being subjected. One resident, who is renting, explains: "On Thursday morning, two well-dressed men came to my building and went apartment by apartment asking if any of us wanted to sell. They offered cash and asked directly for the owner.
"Whey they insisted on asking for the contact information of the owner, I refused to give them it. They confirmed that there was a lot of demand for homes, but from foreign clients."
These were two Spanish men, who indicated that there was "a huge amount of demand for homes and not enough supply." "I'm going to give them the phone number of the owner of the apartment? Why? So he can kick me out and a foreigner can move in? In my building, which is in the Sa Gerreria area, many neighbours have left recently. Couples with children, fellow workers, neighbours who want their children to live here cannot. Then you walk past Plaça Raimundo Clar and the terraces are filled with foreigners."
This transformation of the neighbourhood has led to a change in local businesses: "We don't have a fruit and veg shop or a shoe shop. Coffee costs five euros and they serve you avocado. We have cafes for cyclists, but not for locals. I've had a contract for more than ten years. I take care of my landlord's apartment, and he takes care of me. But they keep leaving ads in our mailbox for investors looking for an apartment and paying in cash. Does all the black money in Europe come here?"
A residents association statement reads: "We denounce these aggressive and speculative practices that endanger the coexistence and access to housing of the neighbourhood's residents. We do not want to become a showcase for tourist investments or a theme park for foreigners with dollars. Housing is a right, not a business. Our neighbourhood is not for sale."
13 comments
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Bryan AdamsWhat do you mean? Explain your comments of entitled and privileged?!!
Darwin DGo home, you mean sell up? Who will buy?
MyselfThere are good and bad in all nationalities and races. Yes there certainly are in your sweeping generalised statement . I do not like how , in general, Arabs treat their women, how Arabs treat their animals, how Arabs treat their minorities, gay people for example, how Arabs treat their foreign workers, how Arab countries are ( in general) either absolute monarchies or dictatorships, how Arab countries treat their neighbours. Now thats just me. Maybe others will be fine with all those things. I guess another description would be tribal. I like and am comfortable with people of my own tribe. In the big wide world there are some tribes I prefer to others, and some tribes I really do not care for. I do apologise if I am not all inclusive enough, diverse enough, welcoming foreign cultures enough . However I do live in a democratic society and so am free to hold and express those opinions.
Ulla JacksonEntitled, and privileged I would say.
tranq tranquerTo generalise like you are doing is certainly racist. You say you don’t like Arabs full stop. Why don’t you like them? There are millions in the world, from many different countries and they aren’t all the same just as Europeans aren’t all the same. There are good and bad in all nationalities and races.
Ah the racist card again. When in doubt call someone racist. I prefer facts. Through personal experience I prefer Norwegians to Swedes. I prefer Turks to Greeks. I do not like Arabs. I particularly like people who walk talk and think like me. Does this make me a racist. Disliking people because I do not like how they live or behave, either towards me or in general. They have every right to live or behave like they do in their own country. I have every right not to like them. We, Europeans, and certainly British, have over the last two or three decades become obsessed with race. And given the amount of inward mass immigration is it any wonder.
@Darwin D , Do you have some personnel specific problem´s with Germans and Swede´s sounds a tiny bit RACIST !
Annoying, perhaps. But doesn't sound particularly 'aggressive'. I have estate agents approaching me outside my property frequently, and just say a brief and courteous 'no'. No particular harm done.
This whining and complaining is soooo tiring. Yes everyone has the right to live somewhere but NOT to live necessarily where they choose to or for the price they would like!! If your neighbourhood is in high demand or changes demographics, that is for a reason. Locals decided to take the money or, indeed, sell coffees for 5 Euros. Unfortunate but a reality that has happened in many cities worldwide for decades!! Blue collar neighbourhoods become trendy and touristy and expensive. Tough. Way of the world.
Locals should start making lots of noise on the streets with casserols every night and protest so long that swedes and germans go home.