Dear Sir, Margaret Scott, from Essex, proved why holiday lettings should be allowed, and why lots of people, including the Mayor of Pollensa, agree the new Draft Act is lunacy.
Thousands of short term holiday lets happen every day in Majorca, although it is illegal. The law is not enforced, quite rightly, as it benefits so many small businesses. Increasing fines to 40'000 is a joke. No fine of 30000 was ever paid, so why increase it? Could |I suggest that because lettings happen on such a vast scale, there is no regulation of those who cause the type of inconvenience she describes. The new Draft Act is solely focussed on helping hotel groups, who have no intention of helping small businesses, as far as I can see.
Good short term lettings never cause any problem and go on seamlessly every day.
Can I suggest that short term lettings are made totally legal, BUT, the Tourist Board should introduce laws that protect people like Margaret. Introduce licences for short term rentals (at a reasonable cost and with the condition there is payment of tax). Any bad behaviour can be reported to the authorities, and the renter loses their right to rent, if proven. Communities would equally have the right to ban irresponsible renters, if this was proven, using the same law.
Spain is not going to recover economically some time soon.
Majorca is suffering so badly financially with no short term fix with decreasing tourists. Why cut our throats with a silly new Act? Everything possible that can be done to help the economy of our amazing island should happen. I hope that even the self centred Hotel lobby might just agree with me. I can but hope.
Calvia operates 12 months of the year, whilst I accept Pollensa is a much shorter season, which may concentrate problems.
Richard Taylor
Calvia