In 2018, Palma Town Hall banned holiday lets in the city's apartments, a decision that was subsequently supported by a Supreme Court ruling. Everyone knows there is a ban, as everyone should know there are swingeing fines for flouting the prohibition, and yet the illegal letting continues.
How is it allowed to continue if there are examples as seemingly obvious as one that relates to number 14 on C. Oms right bang in the centre of the city, a street that connects Plaça Espanya and La Rambla? Admittedly there isn't a tell-tale key box, but the apartment is on Airbnb, and neighbours describe it as a "small hotel".
This is a ground-floor apartment with five bedrooms that can accommodate up to twenty people. The Airbnb listing boasts its excellent location. Free coffee and pizza are offered. There is a pack with stuff for the beach - a parasol, goggles, a cool box. The rate per night ranges between 65 and 95 euros. Were the apartment to be totally full for a month, it could make up to 48,000 euros.
Neighbours say the owner and his father greet guests when they arrive; hence there is no key box. An interior terrace has been covered to prevent photos being taken of people on the terrace. Bags are sometimes dropped off by car, despite Oms being a pedestrianised street. The building has a community charge. The owner is said to owe 20,000 euros. Water is communal, and so the apartment is using way more than others.
The land registry indicates that the apartment is 211 square metres. It has the five bedrooms, each with a number, but it only has one bathroom. One comment reads: "We didn't know there were five rooms in total with an occupancy of up to four people and only one bathroom. I counted 14 guests at one point! And only one bathroom/toilet!"
It is an illegal let and it is also overcrowded. Neighbours accuse Airbnb of ignoring this illegality and don't have good words for the tourism authorities either. No action has been taken, despite numerous complaints. One neighbour adds: "There are illegal offers all over these streets. Yet no one does anything."
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Just TogetpublishedIf I'm not mistaken, when Airbnb first started, their business model was similar to what you are proposing. It was designed for private individuals / families to rent out a room in their home for a few days to tourists wanting to experience authentic, local life.
It’s not the site. Loads of illegal holiday rents are advertised on social media, Facebook is brimming with them, so - it’s even cheaper that way for the illegals. The problem is local authorities just don’t police illegal rentals. This is despite stories last month saying there was now a 80k fine for hosting an illegal holiday let. Seriously??? They could make it 80 million and if it’s not policed, it’s worthless. And really, a child could spot an illegal let on AirBnB - so someone at the council should be able to manage that … you’d think ??!?!?!
I find it odd that there can be such differing opinions of Airbnb and whether they are making a difference to rental/purchase costs of property. Those renting Airbnb say one thing while those trying to rent a property say another. Isn't it time there was an in depth investigation by a third party with no links to either side to see what the ongoing and lasting effect Airbnb are having. From Barcelona to New York there are complaints about the lack of housing and blame Airbnb but not the local government for not building more affordable housing. How about making it law that the only people that can operate Airbnb must live in the property they are renting out and make it hugely expensive tax wise for those who have more than one property and let them out. Steps back and waits for the neigh sayers.
Charles Dalrymple-ChumleyI am not sure where you are getting your info from but they are saying the changes are making little difference in New York.
Try to inform town of illegal rents and the answer is" If you cannot provide us link where this can be booked, we cannot do anything". Useless department.
We are fully legal and it pisses me off no end that the authorities introduce more and more laws, hurdles and costs for the honest, legal (and high quality) holiday lets yet do sweet FA about the obvious illegals, who flout every regulation, including many safety concerns and get away scot free and pay no tax to boot. I can point a stick at quite a few where I live. Airbnb could probably do more, I agree but the real fault is with wholly incompetent local authorities with possibly a large smattering of corruption added too. I know, though, being a foreigner that if I step out of line…then wham!
Charles Dalrymple-ChumleyMaybe the son and father have good connections in the right place?
Airbnb, again. When Councils realise that this site is the root and cause of driving holidaymaker traffic to illegal lets and take steps to ban it working in their areas things will change for the better. New York just came down heavy on Airbnb and it's making a huge difference. Wake up guys!