A call to landlords and an amendment: Prohens' measures regarding rent renewals

"I call for the responsibility of landlords regarding the renewal of rental agreements. I know that most are not banks or vulture funds. They are normal people aware of this." This was the response of the President of the Government, Marga Prohens, when the spokesperson for MÉS per Mallorca, Lluís Apesteguia, demanded measures from her regarding the expiration of thousands of rental contracts and the foreseeable rise in prices. Once the extension decreed by the Spanish executive has not moved forward, it is foreseeable that the housing emergency will worsen due to the price increase associated with rental renewals. "This is not enough. That is why we have prepared a deduction for landlords who freeze the rent, and it has already been registered as an amendment [to the strategic projects law that the Parliament is currently processing]," she added. In short, a call for responsibility and an amendment are the initiatives that the president has put on the table to prevent rental prices from becoming even more unaffordable in the Balearic Islands.

Apesteguia criticized that the Government has taken a year to prepare this amendment and remarked that "rent has increased by 70% in the last year." "Do you think the free market will fix it? Do you think the solution involves giving bonuses to those who decide not to get rich, to demand responsibility? That the solution will come from those who raise the rent?", asked the ecosovereigntist spokesperson, in addition to demanding market intervention. "The policies of the PP only offer absolute precariousness as an alternative," he remarked.

Prohens has reiterated that the Balearic Islands have reached the current situation due to eight years of left-wing policies and has returned to the PP's mantra this legislature by emphasizing that "housing is not an ideological debate, but one of management". "Your ideological rules worsen the problem. People no longer want to rent out their homes because they do not want to bear the burden of vulnerability, because you have decided to protect squatters. Your policies harm those you claim to protect with your rants," she added. Furthermore, the president has called on Apesteguia for MÉS per Mallorca to "stop the tactical maneuvering" and vote in favor of the amendment to provide bonuses to property owners.

The Balearic Islands, Europe's "real estate refuge"

The spokesperson for the PSIB, Iago Negueruela, also focused on housing in his speech during the control session of the Government and lamented that the Balearic Islands have become "Europe's real estate refuge" during the three years the PP has been at the helm of the Executive. The socialist cited companies in the sector such as Engel & Völkers and Florian Hofer, who have highlighted the transformation of the island's real estate market with the increase in tourist demand and "semi-permanent housing solutions". "Your measures favor large funds buying here. 40% of the homes are bought by Germans and the Balearic Islands are becoming a paradise for investors," said Negueruela, while Prohens once again mentioned "the eight years of socialist policies".

"For whom did you think your rustic chalets were for? And the luxury apartments in Nou Llevant? And the luxury apartments in El Jonquet? This is your legacy," criticized the president, and recalled that, "for the first time, more multi-family projects than single-family projects have been approved".