"They want to drive us out": Longstanding residents in Santa Catalina against alleged investor

"They want to drive us out": Longstanding residents in Santa Catalina against alleged investor

Leading question

How can it be that a family in the heart of Santa Catalina has been filing reports and taking legal action for years and still lives amid increasingly loud holiday rentals and construction work as if the public space had been stolen from them?

Critical analysis

The scene on the Pursiana, a narrow street that runs directly to the lively Santa Catalina market: shouting children, restaurateurs setting up tables, the constant clack of suitcase wheels on a morning. Right there is a house whose residents claim investors bought several units in recent years and converted them into holiday apartments. According to neighbors, a British buyer already removed load-bearing walls without permission in 2015; later a Swedish entrepreneur converted more apartments into maisonettes, added rooftop extensions and turned residential balconies into doors. The Porcel family, who have lived there for generations, report repeated planning violations, disruptive guest traffic and even intimidation from the courtyard.

Formally much was handled through reports; a court case was won, but practical consequences remained limited: claims are not paid, rulings are difficult to enforce, and renovation costs have now ruined the affected household's finances. The accusations range from illegal tourist rentals in a multi-family building to structural changes that, according to the family, severely reduce their quality of life.

What is missing in the public discourse

The debate about gentrification in Mallorca often revolves around numbers, hotels and large projects. Rarely does it address the everyday life of those who cling to their homes amid processes of erosion. There is a lack of clear perspective on the interplay of private real estate speculation, sluggish municipal administration and the gray area around short-term holiday rentals. Also rarely discussed is the gap that emerges when people are legally "in the right" but practically have no means to enforce judgments or collect compensation.

Everyday scene from Mallorca

A Wednesday midday in Santa Catalina: the smell of freshly ground coffee from Calle Joan Miró, suppliers rolling pallets of olive oil and seafood up the streets, young people with laptops outside coworking spaces. In the midst of this bustle, María Porcel sits at her window on the Pursiana and watches tables being set for guests on the newly created terrace opposite. The clinking of glasses mixes with the dull thud of suitcase wheels. A neighbor calls from the street that another couple has arrived "for three nights." For the Porcels this is not a scenario but a daily burden: less peace, less security, and the feeling of being a stranger in their own home.

Concrete proposals

1) Strengthened municipal enforcement: city councils must pool resources to execute final rulings immediately. When a court orders remediation payments, there needs to be an office that, if necessary, carries out the work and recovers the costs.

2) Transparent ownership registers: anyone buying several units in a residential block should disclose whether they intend the units for permanent housing or tourist rental. Such transparency helps neighbors and authorities weigh competing interests.

3) Expand social legal aid: families like the Porcels narrowly miss the threshold for legal aid. Expanded, tiered support in building and tenancy disputes would enable affected people not only to win judgments but also to enforce them.

4) Sanctions against alleged illegal holiday rentals: repeated violations must lead to hefty fines and closures. At the same time, incentives should be created for renting to long-term tenants, for example through tax breaks for owners who lease apartments on a permanent basis.

What could happen immediately

The city can intensify inspections in affected streets like the Pursiana in the short term, link reports together and threaten closures for repeat offenders. At the local level, neighborhood initiatives should be strengthened: a small network of affected residents, legal advisors and the district office can react faster than slow administrative processes.

Pointed conclusion

Santa Catalina remains a lively district, but it risks becoming a playground for capital interests if clear rules are not enforced. The Porcels' story is not an isolated case but a warning signal: without targeted interventions, longtime residents not only lose their peace but often also their financial livelihood. Those who want to preserve Palma's diversity must make the law effective — not only on paper but on the street, on the Pursiana, at María Porcel's window.