Alberto Núñez Feijóo has pledged that the 532 protected homes planned for Ca n’Escandell in Ibiza will be reserved for residents, declaring that they will be for local people “sí o sí”. The president of the Partido Popular and candidate for the Spanish presidency made the commitment during a pre-election campaign event in Palma on Monday 9 November 2026, following weeks of political controversy over who will be eligible to access the development.

Feijóo's statement reinforces the position taken by the Balearic Government, Ibiza Town Hall and the island's municipalities, which have called for local residents to receive priority in the allocation of the future homes.

However, the announcement is a political commitment rather than a new allocation decision. The legal framework already includes a minimum residence requirement for publicly owned protected housing in the Balearic Islands, while local institutions are seeking additional guarantees for people who have lived on Ibiza for longer.

Feijóo Makes Commitment at Palma Campaign Event

Speaking at an event at Pueblo Español in Palma, attended by Balearic President Marga Prohens, Feijóo said the homes planned for Ca n’Escandell would be for residents.

He extended the same commitment to the Son Busquets housing development in Palma and argued that the Balearic Islands need a substantial increase in the availability of affordable housing.

The announcement came after a dispute in September involving Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez, Ibiza Town Mayor Rafael Triguero and the Balearic Government over the eligibility criteria for the 532 homes.

Feijóo also used the event to present wider housing proposals, including tax measures intended to help young people purchase their first home.

He did not, however, announce a new agreement with Casa 47 or publish specific rules for implementing his commitment at Ca n’Escandell.

The Dispute Over Who Can Apply for the Homes

The controversy intensified during Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez's visit to Ca n’Escandell on 17 September.

During the visit, Rodríguez rejected the request from Mayor Rafael Triguero to establish additional local criteria for access to the homes. She argued that the national government governs for all Spanish citizens and said that residents would be those living in properties managed by Casa 47.

Her comments prompted objections from Ibiza Town Hall and the Balearic Government, which argued that the regional housing legislation establishes residence requirements for publicly owned protected housing.

On 18 September, Balearic Government spokesperson Antoni Costa stated that applicants would need at least five years of residence in Ibiza to qualify.

The debate continued over the following days, with local authorities seeking stronger guarantees that the development would prioritise people already living on the island.

On 23 September, the PSOE in Ibiza issued a clarification, saying it had confirmed with the Ministry that the future allocation process would have to comply with the Balearic Housing Act.

What Balearic Housing Law Actually Requires

The legal framework is set out in Article 70.8 of Law 5/2018, the Balearic Islands Housing Act, as amended by subsequent legislation.

For publicly owned protected housing, the law requires applicants to demonstrate at least five years of residence in the Balearic Islands immediately before the start of the allocation procedure.

It also establishes a preference for applicants who can demonstrate the same five-year period of residence in the municipality where the property is located.

In the case of Ca n’Escandell, this means that the legislation already provides a basis for prioritising applicants with the required residence history in Ibiza Town.

The law also includes provisions for situations in which homes remain unallocated because applicants do not meet the five-year requirement. In those circumstances, they may be offered to people with a shorter period of residence.

There are also possible exceptions for certain public employees transferred to the islands to meet essential needs, including healthcare, education, security and justice services.

The distinction is important: the law establishes a five-year residence requirement for publicly owned protected housing, together with municipal preference. It does not establish a universal ten-year requirement for all applicants.

Ibiza's Municipalities Have Requested Ten Years of Residence

While the regional legislation provides for five years of residence, Ibiza's local authorities have requested stronger local priority for the Ca n’Escandell development.

Mayor Rafael Triguero called for residents of Ibiza to be prioritised, arguing that the homes should respond to the housing difficulties experienced by people already living on the island.

The Consell d’Alcaldes, bringing together the island's mayors, subsequently adopted a joint institutional position requesting that people with at least ten years of residence on Ibiza receive preference for the Ca n’Escandell homes.

This is a request from the island's municipalities for a stronger preference than the general five-year framework established in regional law.

The local debate also reflects the wider pressure on the housing market, particularly for young people, families and workers who struggle to find affordable accommodation on the island.

How the 532-Housing Development Is Progressing

Ca n’Escandell is one of the largest planned public housing developments in Ibiza. The project envisages 532 protected homes on publicly owned land in the municipality of Ibiza.

The first two residential blocks account for 362 homes. Block 8 is planned to contain 165 properties, while block 9 will include 197.

A third block, block 10, is expected to provide another 170 homes. However, this part of the development was still awaiting a definitive solution in September 2026 because Casa 47 and Ibiza Town Hall hold different shares of the land.

The Ministry proposed that the relevant land be transferred to the Balearic Housing Institute (IBAVI), allowing the regional public body to develop the complete block.

The homes are planned for public rental, with the first two blocks expected to move towards construction once the urbanisation works are completed and the necessary municipal licences have been obtained.

During her September visit, the minister indicated that construction of the first residential buildings could begin in 2027. The urbanisation works, which include roads, infrastructure and public spaces, were already under way.

A Political Commitment Still Awaiting Its Practical Details

Feijóo's declaration adds political weight to the demand that the Ca n’Escandell homes should benefit people who already live on Ibiza.

Nevertheless, the practical allocation conditions will need to be established through the relevant administrative process and must comply with the applicable housing legislation.

The existing regional law already requires five years of residence in the Balearic Islands for publicly owned protected housing and gives preference to applicants who meet that period in the municipality where the homes are located.

The island's municipalities are seeking a stronger preference based on ten years of residence on Ibiza, while Feijóo has promised that the homes will be for residents without announcing a specific mechanism to achieve that commitment.

With construction still ahead, the final allocation rules will be crucial in determining how the 532 homes are distributed and which households will be eligible to apply.