Airbnb to Delete Illegal Vacation Rentals on the Balearic Islands Starting Mid-October

Suddenly clearer rules: Airbnb Takes on Illegal Listings

Last week I sat with a coffee at Plaça del Mercat and heard two landlords talk about a meeting on Ibiza. The message was simple: Starting mid-October, Airbnb will remove listings without an official registration number from the portals — initially on Ibiza, then also on Mallorca, Menorca, and Formentera.

What exactly is going to happen?

The platform has pledged to remove listings that do not have the required registration number from the listings. This affects not only obviously questionable accommodations such as tents or boats, but especially apartments in multi-family buildings that are rented to tourists without authorization.

The Balearic government notes that there have already been early successes: on Ibiza, according to authorities, several thousand listings were removed, and many overnight stays are shifting to regulated establishments. That sounds good at first, especially for neighbors who want peace and for hoteliers who feel disadvantaged.

Why this is also important for Mallorca

At the end of August, a study drew attention: on Mallorca, about every fourth offered property allegedly does not have the necessary permits — according to authorities this corresponds to several thousand apartments and more than 40,000 beds on a monthly average. If that's true, it's a huge hole in the system.

For residents the new wave of oversight means less noise in the streets of Palma, less short-term check-ins and check-outs on Calle Sant Miquel at 7 a.m. For responsible landlords it means: List your property cleanly and with a valid number, or the listing will disappear.

What to watch out for

Check: If you book a holiday apartment, ask for the registration number. Be skeptical of offers that are very cheap or only bookable by message. And: The measure is a step, not a panacea. Illegal operators may try to obscure their listings or move to other platforms.

A small everyday tip: If your neighbor suddenly has guests every Friday and the trash bins are full, often a conversation or a call to the municipality helps before things escalate.

Whether all this goes smoothly remains to be seen. The announced deletion starting in October is a clear signal — but as always the devil is in the details.