650 new vacation rental license spots on Mallorca: Small number, big questions

650 licenses – more breathing room or a new game for speculators?

When in the early morning the buses passed the Plaça de la Porta Pintada and the morning heat already smelled of sea salt, the online portal opened: Mallorca is releasing around 650 new spots for vacation rentals. On paper it is a sober number — but for neighbours in Portixol, apartment operators in Cala Major or the small host in Port de Sóller it can mean a lot. The guiding question remains: Does this quota relieve the market — or does it create new incentives for speculation and displacement?

How do the spots work in practice?

One license corresponds to one overnight spot, i.e. a single bed. If you want to allow four people, you need four licenses. Buyers can be private individuals or companies; the authority gives a guideline price of around €3,500 per spot. That sounds like a calculable investment to some — to others it is another building block in the complicated mix of housing shortage, tourists and neighborhood life, accompanied in the mornings by the clatter of coffee cups on the Passeig and in the evenings by the squawk of seagulls on the beach.

Why registration is crucial

The island council requires timely registration of purchased spots. Without registration the rights expire. The concern is real: "If you don't register the paperwork in time, the money is gone and the work stays," said Marta, an operator from Port de Sóller, who sorted her documents today and looked nervous. The procedure makes clear how vulnerable small providers are — those who make mistakes can end up empty-handed, while larger players run processes routinely.

Unmentioned risks: secondary market, fragmentation, infrastructure

The public debate often focuses on numbers. Less noticed are three effects: First: a trade in licenses can arise — especially in sought-after zones around Palma or at Playa de Muro. That creates winners (those with capital, agencies) and losers (tenants, small hosts). Second: the fragmentation of rights complicates long-term planning for neighborhoods — restaurants, waste management and parking feel the extra burden when suddenly more beds become available. Third: the balance between short-term tourism and the housing market can shift; more licenses do not automatically equate to better housing provision.

Concrete recommendations — what policymakers should do now

If you take the complexity seriously, you cannot just watch. A few sensible measures would be:

1. Resale rules: A ban or a tax on short-term resale of licenses within a defined period would curb speculation.

2. Local caps: Priority for locals and long-term owners in already dense residential areas — for example by reserving a percentage of the spots.

3. Transparent register: A publicly viewable list showing where spots have been activated so municipalities can better manage traffic and noise loads.

4. Assessment of infrastructure impacts: Before awarding large quotas, the regional use of waste, water and parking should be evaluated.

5. Support for small providers: Bureaucratic deadlines, clear checklists and advisory services so that individuals like Marta are not left in the dark.

Practical tips for buyers

Anyone seriously eyeing a license should now examine carefully: Is the property suitable in terms of building law and taxation? Are there municipal regulations or homeowners' association rules that prohibit short-term rentals? And: do not delay registration with the island council — even a small mistake can be costly. Example calculation: four spots at €3,500 each are €14,000 acquisition — this only pays off with stable demand and clean cost calculations.

Looking ahead

The authorities have announced that the quotas will be released in stages. For residents that means: keep your eyes and ears open, the promenade is not an anonymous playground. For hosts it means: better get informed now, seek advice and document everything, instead of being surprised later. One last tip: if you receive a sudden call with a suspiciously attractive offer — take a breath and get advice. Much in Mallorca is negotiated over the bar, but with rights and licenses written clarity is worth its weight in gold.

The 650 spots are more than a bureaucratic headline — they are a test of how the island deals with limited space, tourism pressure and the interests of different groups. Whether the experiment gives relief or sows new inequalities depends less on the number than on the rules agreed now.