The long-standing battle against illegal tourist rentals on Ibiza has come to an end. Local authorities and the Airbnb platform have finally reached an agreement that has cleared the market of thousands of unauthorized listings. Now, only properties that have undergone official registration and obtained all necessary permits remain on the island.
Just a few years ago, the situation in Ibiza was very different: coastal areas saw an influx of tents, vans, and unlicensed apartments, while locals struggled with a lack of affordable housing. In 2019, the island’s administration decided to establish a special unit to address the issue. Since then, painstaking work has been underway to identify and remove illegal listings.
A key turning point was the agreement with Airbnb, which controls nearly the entire short-term rental market on Ibiza. The platform agreed to provide authorities with information about listed properties and to remove those that failed to meet requirements. As a result, around 14,000 illegal accommodations have disappeared from the site in recent months—equivalent to nearly five thousand tourists each day. Now, all listings must include a license number or they are automatically blocked.
In July 2024, there were more than two thousand illegal listings on the island, but by the end of summer, none remained. Authorities note that monitoring new attempts to circumvent the rules has become easier, and previously removed listings cannot be reposted. Thanks to the implementation of a special analysis system, officials were able to cross-reference housing data with official registries and identify all violations.
The changes have already affected tourist flows: most travelers who previously chose illegal accommodation are now staying in licensed apartments. About a third of those who used to opt for unlawful rentals have stopped coming to Ibiza altogether. Similar measures are expected to be adopted by other Balearic Islands by October. In some areas, such as Formentera, anonymous channels have already been launched for reporting illegal rentals, and local administrations are strengthening oversight and introducing new restrictions.
Overall, authorities expect these measures will help reduce the burden on infrastructure, improve the quality of tourist services, and restore affordable housing for residents. However, the fight against illegal rentals continues, and market oversight will only become stricter.
