The president of the association of property administrators in the Balearics, Antoni Jaume, says that the housing problems are leading to overoccupancy. "In properties where five people used to live, there are now ten or twelve."
This has been caused by the increase in the renting-out of rooms as opposed to whole apartments or houses. Each room is typically occupied by two people. If there are five rooms, then there are ten people.
He points out that the renting of rooms in Mallorca began to emerge some 25 years ago. "At that time it was mostly immigrants with fewer resources, but now it is spreading to all types of people." In fact, it has become a necessity for people who can't afford to rent a home.
The highest rates of over-occupancy are in Palma and the larger towns like Inca and Manacor, where properties themselves are larger. "The more rooms, the more opportunities to rent." Jaume cites the Blanquerna area as an example; it is full of large, old apartments.
"It can be a perfect business for some owners. If someone inherits a large apartment from their parents or grandparents and doesn't need it to live in, they can rent out the rooms."
He explains that "high occupancy does not, in itself, constitute a problem for communities of owners, provided that it does not result in disruptive activities". "In most cases, the only noticeable effect is more intensive use of common areas.
"But it's a complex situation. Actions by public authorities are not automatically triggered simply because there is high occupancy. In those cases where problems of coexistence do arise, the residents must act through the mechanisms provided for in the horizontal property regulations, particularly regarding disruptive, harmful, unhealthy, or illegal activities."