A late-night noise complaint has uncovered another suspected illegal tourist rental in Ibiza Town, after police discovered that a group of visitors had paid €6,000 for just 10 days to stay in the property.

The case came to light in the early hours of Friday, August 21, when Ibiza Local Police were called to an apartment following complaints about excessive noise. The building's security guard had alerted authorities after the occupants reportedly continued making noise despite being asked to stop.

€6,000 for a 10-Day Stay

When officers arrived, they could hear loud conversations coming from inside the apartment.

The occupants cooperated with police and provided documentation relating to their stay. Officers found that the property had been rented for 10 days, from August 13 to August 23, for a total of €6,000.

That works out at approximately €600 per night for the property.

The reservation had been handled through an intermediary company, and the occupants also provided a subletting contract and other information relating to the management of the property.

Police Opened an Investigation

After reviewing the documentation, police identified indications that the apartment could have been operating as an unauthorised tourist rental.

Officers therefore filed an official report and forwarded all the information gathered to the Consell Insular d'Eivissa, which will now be responsible for continuing the relevant proceedings.

Importantly, the property has been identified as a possible illegal tourist rental at this stage; the latest police action itself does not constitute a final finding of liability.

11 Cases Detected in Ibiza Town This Year

The latest case brings the number of illegal tourist-rental complaints processed and made public by Ibiza Town Hall to 11 so far this year.

The municipality says the inspections form part of its ongoing campaign to control and pursue unregulated tourist accommodation.

The issue is particularly sensitive in Ibiza, where the availability and cost of residential housing has become one of the island's major social and political concerns.

Authorities have been increasing inspections as they attempt to prevent homes intended for residential use from being converted into short-term tourist accommodation without the required authorisation.

Ibiza's Rules on Tourist Rentals

Ibiza has particularly strict rules regarding tourist rentals.

According to the municipality, tourist rentals are prohibited in residential apartment buildings on the island of Ibiza, while unauthorised changes from residential to tourist use can also trigger substantial urban-planning penalties.

The potential consequences can be significant.

In a separate case inspected in 2024, Ibiza Town Hall recently imposed a €793,443.74 fine after determining that a residential property had been converted to tourist use without the required authorisation.

The municipality has also pointed out that urban-planning legislation can allow sanctions equivalent to up to 75% of a property's total value where an unauthorised change of use from residential to tourist accommodation is established.

The Noise Complaint Was the Starting Point

In this latest case, it was not a planned tourist-rental inspection that brought police to the property.

It was a neighbourhood noise complaint.

The intervention shows how complaints from residents can sometimes lead authorities to discover other potential violations during routine checks.

The visitors themselves cooperated with officers and provided the documents that ultimately allowed police to establish the nature and price of their short-term stay.

The case will now move to the relevant authorities for further investigation.

For Ibiza, it is another example of the growing scrutiny surrounding short-term accommodation — and how a €6,000 holiday rental and a late-night party ended up attracting the attention of local police.

Source: Noudiari