At the heart of Palma, in the Canamunt-Ciutat Antiga district, a battle is raging for the right to remain in one’s own home. In recent years, rental prices here have skyrocketed, leaving many families on the verge of eviction. Local residents, who have shaped the unique atmosphere of this historic neighborhood for decades, are now being forced to look for new housing or even leave the island.
The situation is worsened by the fact that many apartment owners prefer to rent at inflated prices or keep their properties empty while waiting for lucrative offers from foreign investors. As a result, traditional shops and cafes are disappearing, giving way to boutiques, hotels, and souvenir stores catering to tourists and new affluent residents.
Rent is becoming unaffordable
The stories of local residents are strikingly similar. For example, Rosa Deyà, who has lived in the neighborhood for 26 years, will have to leave her apartment in August when her lease expires. Despite steady employment and financial stability, finding new accommodation at an affordable price is nearly impossible. Small apartments are going for €1,700, and attempts to negotiate a lower price lead nowhere. Even unfurnished options cost at least €1,800 per month, and landlords are unwilling to compromise.
Many of Rosa’s neighbors have already left Canamunt, and some have even left Mallorca entirely. Elderly residents have been hit particularly hard: one retiree was forced to move to the other side of the city and share an apartment with strangers, despite having lived alone all her life. For many, leaving their beloved neighborhoods simply because of unaffordable rent has become the new normal.
A Changing Neighborhood
In the past decade, Canamunt-Ciutat Antiga has transformed from a little-known district into prime territory for investors. In 2015, renting a square meter cost €8.9; today, it’s already €18.8. The average 70-square-meter apartment has jumped from €623 to €1,326 per month. That’s more than double the price in a short time.
A telling example can be found on Cordería street: six apartments were purchased by a Swedish investor, who merged them into one luxury residence and put it on the market for €18.5 million. According to Carme Verdaguer, who has lived in the area her entire life, the new owners are not interested in becoming part of the local community. They don’t participate in neighborhood life, and the area is losing its unique character.
Uniting for Change
After years of protests, residents decided to take more decisive action. At the most recent assembly, they agreed to ask the owners of vacant apartments to rent them out at affordable rates. This is one way to slow the wave of evictions and preserve the neighborhood’s social fabric. The problem is made worse by the fact that many leases are expiring, with new terms unaffordable for most families.
Antònia Figuerola, president of the association, recalls that ten years ago she paid 600 euros a month for housing—now such prices are nowhere to be found. She notes that even among apartment owners, discontent is growing: many no longer feel part of Canamunt and are concerned about the disappearance of their neighbors.
Loss of identity and the future of the neighborhood
With the disappearance of old shops and bars, Canamunt is losing its character. In their place, restaurants, boutiques, and hotels designed for tourists and affluent newcomers are springing up. According to Carme Verdaguer, if this trend continues, the neighborhood will ultimately become a place only for property owners, not for those who have lived and worked here for years. In the end, everyone loses: renters are left without homes, and the community loses its roots and traditions.
Canamunt residents are not giving up and continue to fight for their right to live in their own neighborhood. They hope their efforts will help stop mass evictions and restore the area’s former atmosphere, where everyone feels at home.
