Lorraine Williamson
A clampdown on illegal short-term rentals in Mallorca is gathering pace as island authorities team up with Airbnb to root out unlicensed listings and restore balance to the local tourism market.
In a decisive move to combat the surge of unregulated tourist lets, the Consell de Mallorca and Airbnb have launched a new agreement aimed at enforcing tighter controls over holiday rentals. With the support of new European regulations, the partnership seeks to ease the burden on local communities and bring clarity to a market long criticised for spiralling out of control.
The initiative introduces a digital system that allows Airbnb to detect and remove unlawful listings faster — particularly those that flout local zoning laws or offer unlicensed accommodation, such as makeshift campervan stays or pop-up tents on rural land.
More than 130 non-compliant listings were taken down during the scheme’s first phase. Officials say this is just the beginning.
Mandatory registration for new hosts
From 23 June 2025, new Airbnb hosts in Mallorca will be required to submit a valid tourism licence number when listing their property — and only in the correct format. Any adverts missing this information or using improper credentials will be blocked by the platform’s new compliance filter. The system also enables authorities to verify rental legality at a glance, making enforcement more efficient.
Information campaign to raise awareness
To support the transition, Airbnb is launching a targeted information drive to educate hosts on EU-wide rental regulations and Spanish law. The campaign will include outreach on the island and is designed to boost compliance through better understanding, rather than fear of penalties.
Llorenç Galmés, president of the Consell de Mallorca, hailed the partnership as a “smart solution” to a long-standing issue, saying that “tourism must never come at the cost of local quality of life”. He described the collaboration as a model for others to follow — with clearer rules, tougher enforcement, and shared accountability between tech platforms and governments.
Airbnb echoed the sentiment, describing the deal as a key milestone in building “sustainable and fair tourism” that respects the needs of both visitors and residents.
A wider trend across Spain
Mallorca’s move is part of a growing shift across Spain’s tourist hotspots. Ibiza, the Canary Islands, and Murcia have also begun rolling out similar collaborations with short-term rental platforms in recent months, amid rising complaints from residents about noise, crowding, and housing shortages.
As pressure mounts on regional governments to rein in overtourism, Mallorca’s partnership with Airbnb may become a blueprint for responsible tourism — where economic gain is no longer allowed to trump the social and environmental cost.
Short-term rentals
With EU-wide short-term rental legislation tightening and more regions pushing back against unsanctioned tourism models, the spotlight is now on enforcement. Whether other platforms will step up to the plate — and whether local authorities have the resources to match regulation with real-world oversight — remains to be seen.
But for now, Mallorca is signalling a clear message: the era of no-questions-asked holiday lets is over.
Canary Islands protesters demand overhaul of mass tourism model