A Palma resident in her fifties rents out a room of her home by the hour. She does so, she says, "in order to survive". "I’m over 50, and no matter what anyone says, it’s impossible to find a job at my age; nobody will hire me. It’s either this or I’d be homeless."
She has been renting out a room for the past five years. The practice is said to be increasing in Mallorca, the income - in her case - being around €1,000 a month. The hourly rate is €25. It is reduced for more hours - four cost €65. There is a five-euro per hour surcharge at weekends, when the minimum stay is two hours.
She is fully aware that she doesn't have the necessary permit. She would like to, but there are all the bureaucratic hurdles. "If I were to get a business licence, I would have constant inspections that would make my life impossible, demanding things that are impossible to comply with."
In her view, renting out a room by the hour doesn't harm anyone, while it is preferable to renting it out on a more permanent basis. As to her customers, she doesn't ask why they want the room.
Pedro Munar, a lawyer who specialises in real estate law, says private individuals cannot offer services typical of a hotel, such as renting rooms by the hour. This is Spanish law. In the Balearics, there is also tourism law. In addition, communities of owners have the power to prohibit this activity. "Those who rent out rooms by the hour are unaware of the serious risks they face."
Fines can range between €30,001 and €50,000. In the case of repeat offenders, the penalties are considerably higher.