The Balearic Socialist party wants residents to be given priority when it comes to obtaining moorings in the ports of the Balearics. They will table an amendment to the ports law currently being processed by the Parliament so that, on the waiting lists for moorings, priority is given to those who have been resident on the islands for five years.
Socialist MP Marc Pons points out that this is a measure to stem the loss suffered by Balearic citizens to non-residents who arrive with greater financial resources. This model is already being applied by the president of the Balearic government, Marga Prohens, in the area of housing, and the Socialists believe that the same philosophy can be applied to moorings, where residents are sometimes unable to compete with newcomers.
The PSIB also proposes that the regional government leave the door open for the administration to recover some of the concessions and transfer them to public management, provided that an economic-financial and demand study is carried out beforehand. Marc Pons believes that this proposal is already contrary to the government’s proposal, which extends concessions to 75 years.
The Socialist MP also criticises the fact that the new bill removes the obligation for waiting lists to be public and that it will no longer be necessary to be on a waiting list to be eligible for a concession. According to the Socialist MP, this opens the door to absolute discretion and to the highest bidder winning. When it comes to housing, there are potential new property restrictions looming in Mallorca, particularly focusing on restricting sales of houses to non-residents due to the housing crisis. Some political parties have proposed empowering local councils to implement such restrictions, while the Balearic government previously stated such decisions are a matter for the EU. Another area of restriction concerns holiday rentals, where a new law requires a qualified majority of neighbours’ consent to approve them.
Some political parties are pushing for new measures that would allow local councils to restrict the sale of houses to non-residents, citing the housing crisis. This proposal is framed as a way to ensure homes are used for residential purposes and to combat speculation. A previous official statement from the Balearic government suggested that any limits on non-resident property purchases would need to be approved at the European Union level.
New regulations require a qualified majority of residents to consent to a holiday rental. This rule is intended to protect residents’ peace and quiet and prevent the spread of holiday rentals in residential areas. The government is also working to address issues with illegal building work, particularly on rural land, through a statute of limitations for illegal construction. Foreigners can buy property in Mallorca but must have a Spanish tax ID number.