Airbnb reportedly deletes thousands of illegal holiday rentals in Mallorca starting in October

What happens on Mallorca from October?

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Here's a simple summary: From mid-October, Airbnb will remove all holiday apartments from its listings that do not have a valid registration number or permit. The order comes under pressure from Madrid and with support from the Balearic government and the Consell of Mallorca. Anyone on the portals who cannot show a VUT number or the corresponding registration must expect the listing to disappear.

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Why now?

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Authorities see a serious problem in unregistered offers. Some estimates from the island council suggest that around 40 percent of listings on Mallorca do not conform to the regulations. On Ibiza, more than 2,800 listings have already been removed - that has reignited the debate here. For many residents it is a small vindication: noise, illegal renovations and changing guests in residential neighborhoods have been part of daily life in some districts for years.

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How do hosts and guests react?

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I spoke with several landlords in Palma: Ana from Santa Catalina says she invested time and money in a renovation years ago and would now have her number ready; everything is correct according to the tax advisor, she said with a laugh. Others are unsettled: some small landlords have no idea which number exactly belongs on the listing or how quickly they can meet the requirements.

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Tourists could lose bookings or be rebooked at short notice. Platforms announce support, but the practice is often more complicated: trouble when a family cancels two weeks before arrival affects not only the host.

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What does this mean for the island?

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On the one hand, there is the expectation: more affordable housing for locals, less illegal renting in purely residential neighborhoods. On the other hand, hotels, restaurants and excursions are concerned because especially in the off-season many guests come through private providers. In the short term there may be unrest, in the medium term also a clean data set for planners and authorities.

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Practical tip for hosts: Now check your registration documents, update listings and contact the platform. For renters: Pay attention to the official registration number in the listing and ask if in doubt. Those living in or renting a holiday apartment should know the rules - it saves stress in October.

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This will not be a walk in the park. But it is a step that many here on the island have been calling for years. Will it solve everything? Probably not. But the clock is ticking: by mid-October we will see how many entries disappear and how many hosts upgrade in time.