40% of tourist residences in Mallorca turned out to be illegal

Nearly 40 percent of holiday rentals on Mallorca , a popular tourist destination, are unlicensed, according to a comprehensive study published by the island's council, the Consell de Mallorca, which provides concrete data for the first time.

400,000 ads were reviewed

The Mallorca Council analyzed approximately 400,000 listings on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com between June 2023 and June 2024. The results revealed that more than 42,000 beds are being rented illegally on the island, representing approximately 40 percent of the total vacation rental supply. It also found that an average of 8,000 new illegal units are added to the market each year.

Palma leads the way

The island capital, Palma , is the area with the highest concentration of illegal housing. More than 1,000 businesses in the city rent without being officially registered. Other areas with high density include Pollença and Alcúdia.

“We have reached concrete figures”

Speaking to the Mallorca Zeitung , the Minister of Tourism of the Balearic Islands, Marcial Rodríguez , said:

"After twelve months of intensive work, we now have concrete figures. This allows us to measure the informal economy in tourism. This data provides a solid basis for a more targeted fight against illegal rentals."

Rodríguez stated that their goal is to minimize illegal vacation rentals, but he also emphasized that the process will take time due to legal hurdles.

Increased reporting hotline and inspections

The island council has established a hotline (971-007-940) for citizens to report suspicious listings. The hotline is open weekdays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Additional inspectors have also been assigned to increase field inspections.