Beautiful island loved by British tourists cracks down on holiday homes

Mallorca is tightening its rules on short-term rentals (Image: Getty)

One of Spain’s most sought-after travel destinations, is taking decisive action to regulate short-term tourist rentals. In a significant move to align with EU-wide tourism policies, local authorities in Mallorca have partnered with Airbnb to clamp down on unregistered and non-compliant listings. The newly signed agreement between Airbnb and the island’s governing body, the Consell de Mallorca, introduces streamlined processes for removing listings that violate local housing laws.

As part of this initiative, Airbnb said it is introducing a tool to help hosts meet new EU registration requirements. Any listing that lacks a valid registration number will now be barred from appearing on the platform.

The agreement was signed on June 23 (Image: Getty)

The president of the Consell de Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés, said: "At the Consell de Mallorca, we will continue working resolutely to ensure that the tourism we receive is compatible with residents' quality of life, the protection of the territory, and current regulations.

"This agreement with Airbnb is a firm step in this direction, adding to the comprehensive plan that is increasing the number of inspections and sanctions and reducing waiting times for processing cases."

Signed on June 23, the goal of the new agreement is to increase transparency, boost compliance, and empower authorities to monitor activity more effectively.

So far, more than 130 listings that breached local laws have already been taken down, the council said in a statement. 

Airbnb Marketing Services General Manager, Jaime Rodríguez de Santiago, said: "This collaboration agreement between Airbnb and the Consell de Mallorca represents a fundamental step forward in the implementation of the new European framework for short-term rentals.

"It also exemplifies Airbnb's efforts to strengthen its collaboration with cities and governments in Spain, with the aim of ensuring a successful transition to the new EU regulations for everyone."

Airbnb stated it will also be rolling out an educational campaign to ensure hosts are aware of the changes and understand their obligations under the updated legislation.

This agreement is part of a broader trend across Spain and Europe, where regions such as Ibiza and the Canary Islands are looking to strengthen regulations concerning short-term rentals like Airbnb. 

These efforts have gained urgency in response to recent protests by local residents concerned about the impact of unregulated short-term rentals on local communities.