Més per Palma accuses the PP and Vox Government of turning penalties for illegal tourist rentals into an incentive: discounts of up to 80% and the possibility of accessing the Lloguer Segur programme with guaranteed income.
The spokesperson for Més per Palma in the City Council, Neus Truyol, has criticized the reform included in the omnibus law of the Balearic Government which, according to the ecosovereignist party, rewards those who have exploited tourist homes without a license. The complaint focuses on two measures: the discount of up to 80% on fines and the possibility for offenders to earn income through the Lloguer Segur programme.
An 80% discount on penalties
The reform establishes that owners or companies that have dedicated properties to illegal tourist rentals can reduce their penalty by 80% if they incorporate the apartment into a social rental programme, or by 60% if they do so through Lloguer Segur. Truyol has described this measure as "worrying" and has asserted that "it cannot be that those who have made an illegal business out of such a basic right as housing end up receiving a reward."
The spokesperson has particularly focused on the Lloguer Segur programme, which guarantees owners a monthly income for seven years. According to Més's calculations, an offender could earn up to 88,200 euros, equivalent to 1,050 euros per month. "Penalties are meant to deter illegal behaviour, not for offenders to end up making even more profit," she pointed out.
A shift in the bonus policy
Més per Palma argues that the reform alters the original intent of the bonuses, which were previously designed solely to recover homes and allocate them to affordable rentals. "Previously, the reduction of penalties was exclusively for recovering homes for affordable rentals. Now, in addition to reducing their fine, the Government guarantees offenders new income through the Lloguer Segur programme," Truyol criticized.
The party has also questioned the effectiveness of the Lloguer Segur programme, which the Government announced with the aim of incorporating 2,000 homes, but whose results, according to Més, have fallen far short of that figure. "The failure of a public policy is not corrected by rewarding those who have acted illegally," the spokesperson stated.
Impact on Palma residents
For the residents of Palma, the reform represents a step back in the fight against the lack of affordable housing. Més per Palma warns that by allowing offenders to keep their properties in the illegal tourist market for years and then profit from social rental, the recovery of homes for the residential market is discouraged. "PP and Vox are sending society a very dangerous message: that speculation pays off," Truyol denounced.
The ecosovereignist party demands the withdrawal of this reform and asks the Government to strengthen policies against illegal tourist rentals. "PP and Vox have chosen to protect speculators instead of defending families' right to housing," Truyol concluded. The controversy comes at a time when pressure on the rental market in Palma is at its peak, with skyrocketing prices and an increasingly reduced residential offer.
You may also like
