The Balearic Government holds the Spanish Government responsible for a drop in the number of applications for rental assistance payments. Rents are higher than ever, but the applications have fallen because fewer tenants satisfy the requirements set out by Spain's housing ministry.
The regional government is once again calling on Madrid to changes regulations and establish a special regime for the Balearics. It also wants the Sánchez administration to raise the threshold to qualify for assistance from the current 900 euros (450 euros in the case of a single room) to €1,200 (and €600).
The reason for the cap is to ensure that people who rent very expensive properties don't try and benefit from assistance they don't need. The problem in the Balearics, however, is that the general level of prices to rent is higher than in much of the country; 900 euros and more is common.
The maximum was €600, a figure that left thousands of people without any possibility of rental assistance. The then minister of housing, Josep Marí, encountered resistance in granting special consideration to the Balearics and in adjusting the amount. Eventually he managed to get the Spanish Government to raise it to €900.
The current minister, José Luis Mateo, wants a meeting of regional governments to address this issue. There hasn't been any meeting for nine months.