Ibiza Vice-President Says Tourist Rentals Are Not Responsible for Housing Crisis as 5,000 Illegal Listings Are Blocked

30 October 2026

The relationship between tourist accommodation and Ibiza's housing crisis was once again at the centre of debate this week, after the island's first vice-president, Mariano Juan, argued that legally registered holiday rentals are not responsible for the shortage of residential housing.

Speaking during the 12th Ibiza Holiday Rental Housing Congress at the Torre del Mar hotel in Platja d’en Bossa on Tuesday, 27 October, Juan defended the Consell d’Eivissa's efforts to tackle illegal tourist accommodation and highlighted the pressure created by population growth.

His comments came during a discussion with journalist Montse Monsalve, which also addressed enforcement, tourist accommodation licences and the future regulation of available tourist places.

Consell Reports 5,000 Attempts to Republish Illegal Listings Blocked

Juan outlined the island council's efforts to tackle illegal tourist accommodation, saying that inspection and enforcement activity had increased in recent years.

According to the vice-president, the Consell has gone from opening approximately 80 enforcement proceedings annually to around 120. He also cited approximately €1.3 million collected through fines in the latest available figures.

A central part of the strategy involves identifying and removing online advertisements for accommodation operating without the required authorisation.

Juan said more than 4,000 advertisements had been removed from major platforms during the previous year, while a further 5,000 attempts to republish those offers had been blocked in 2026.

He explained that enforcement can cover more than the actual commercial operation of an illegal rental. Advertising accommodation without meeting the legal requirements can also constitute an infringement, as can obstructing inspectors carrying out their work.

Juan argued that illegal accommodation creates risks for visitors who may book properties without the authorisations and standards they expect.

Debate Over Tourist Rentals and Ibiza's Housing Shortage

One of the most contentious subjects was whether holiday rentals contribute to the difficulty residents face finding homes.

Juan rejected a direct link between legally registered tourist accommodation and the island's housing crisis, arguing that population growth is a major factor behind the pressure on residential supply.

He pointed to an estimated shortage of around 9,000 homes and highlighted the growth in Ibiza's population over recent decades.

However, official figures published by the Balearic Government's Housing Observatory provide a more detailed picture of the island's housing market.

According to the Observatory, Ibiza's population increased by almost 83% between 2000 and 2025, while the number of homes grew by almost 40%. The Government calculates a housing deficit indicator of 43.18% over that period.

The Observatory also recorded 2,365 legally registered tourist-rental homes on the island in December 2025, representing 3.2% of the total housing stock. The number was below the 2,466 recorded in 2022, a reduction of 3.69%.

These figures help explain the scale of the residential housing challenge, although they do not by themselves establish the full effect of tourist accommodation on the availability of homes for permanent residents.

Juan also referred to the Balearic regulations that allow certain properties to be developed for residential rental, provided the relevant conditions are met. He rejected expropriating licensed tourist properties as a solution to the housing shortage.

Tourist Licences and the Need for a More Flexible System

The management of tourist places was another major subject at the congress.

Juan acknowledged that some properties hold tourist authorisations without actively using their allocated places. Under the current system, places released when licences are withdrawn can potentially be reassigned, but the process is subject to administrative restrictions.

According to figures presented by AVAT president José Antonio Llano during the congress, there were around 75 applications, demand for more than 700 tourist places and approximately 30 licence withdrawals.

Juan said the system can be slowed by administrative procedures and appeals against licence withdrawals. He also explained that when places become available, the Consell contacts people on the waiting list, although not everyone responds.

Changing the system more substantially would require a new Plan for Intervention in Tourist Areas, known as the PIAT. Juan indicated that preparing and approving the new framework could take around two years.

The challenge, he said, is to make better use of existing tourist places without creating an uncontrolled expansion of accommodation capacity.

The Future of Tourism Regulation in Ibiza

The congress also addressed the balance between tourism, environmental protection and the quality of life of residents.

Juan said the island's objective was to improve Ibiza as a destination without increasing visitor numbers, while preserving the island's identity and the quality of life of both residents and visitors.

The discussions formed part of the 12th Ibiza Holiday Rental Housing Congress, organised by AVAT and PIMEEF with funding from the Consell d’Eivissa.

The future of holiday rentals remains a significant issue for the island, involving not only the regulation of tourist accommodation but also the availability of homes for residents, enforcement against illegal activity and the planning of Ibiza's tourism model in the years ahead.

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