After a 12 month wait owners of apartments and villas in Mallorca can finally apply for a tourist license to legally offer their property as a holidayrental providing the property meets certain criteria. No properties which are less than 5 years old can apply for a tourist license. No owner can have more than 3 rental properties. There are 3 types of license which is ETV for villas, ETVPL for apartments or ETV60 for those properties which can only be rented for 60 days a year.
Parasol Property Mallorca has so far sucessfully secured 21 tourist places for 4 property owners. I thought you may be interested to know how.
The Tourist license application can be broken down into 3 main steps. It is a process that requires patience and determination as well as a good understanding of the spanish language.
Step1
This involves reserving your tourist places from those currently available. When the places are all filled a waiting list will be made. The first, of many, pieces of paper you require is the certificate from your local town hall. This certificate confirms that your property is located in a `zone´that allows holiday rentals. Some areas have been classified as `saturated´and will not be elegible for a full 365 days license. The cost of this certificate in Puerto Pollensa is 75€ and takes 5/6 days to prepare.
Next, complete the application form (which can be downloaded on line) carefully adding the commercial name of your property and the 24hr phone number which must be available to clients. Take this form (and a copy) along with the 3 copies of the bank standing order for payments and the original and copy of the `cedula de habilidad´to the tourism offices in Palma. This office is located just off the Paseo del Borne, close to the Paseo Maritimo and the Cathedral. It is important to note that you can only apply for the number of places shown on the `cedula´which of course must be in date. They expire after 10 years.
The sigh of relief when all my papers were scrutinized and deemed correct and stamped could be heard across Mallorca. I felt a huge responsability to the owners of the properties who have been anxiously awaiting the chance to apply for a license and offer their beautiful properties as holiday rentals as soon as possible.
STEP 2
As far as I am aware no-one has reached stage 2 yet however approx. 20/30 days after reserving the tourist places, as above, I will be asked to return to Palma to collect a certificate confirming the reservation of places along with forms to pay the initial 20% of the overall cost of the tourist license via bank transfer.
Apartment owners will be expected to pay 875€ per place for a 5 year license. Villa owners will pay 3500€ per place for an indefinate license. As an example a 2 bedroom apartment with 4 beds/places has a total cost of 3500€, payable over 5 years. An owner of a 4 bedroom villa, with 8 beds/places will be asked to pay 28000€ also payable over 5 years.
STEP 3
The final stage is the presentation of the `DRIAT´paperwork, along with proof of payment as above. At this step it will be necessary to confirm the facilities and equipment provided in the property, a tax payment of approx. 300€ to begin the activity of tourist rental along with the energy certificate which has to be a certain leval dependant on the age of the property. Owners will have to confirm that they have adequate civil responsability insurance too. Apartment owners will need to provide registered proof that the community agreed by majority to accept holiday rentals in their building. They must also prove they have individual water meters and invoices.
Hopefully a short time after the presentation of the final papers a provisional license number will be allocated and owners can await an inspection of the property. We imagine that from the moment of obtaining a provisional license number it will be possible to promote the property and accept reservations.
Owners must then register with the Guardia Civil to provide weekly information of their guests shortly after their arrival and also with the tax department for the payment of the tourist tax for each person over 16 years of age. Naturally many owners will employ reliable agents to cover these aspects for them. An accountant will need to be employed to be sure that tax returns are completed correctly when declaring earnings and running costs.
All advertising and contracts for holiday rentals must clearly display the commercial name and the license number. This will make it easier for visitors to identify if a property has a license and an app is available for this purpose. Parasol Property Mallorca would encourage visitors not to book properties that do not have this information as you risk loosing your money as well as your much deserved holiday.
Parasol Property Mallorca looks forward to adding some excellent properties to the portfolio of holiday rentals for 2019. I am confident that we will be able to offer quality 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments along with a couple of high spec villas in much sought after areas of Mallorca. Visitors will be delighted to have a broader selection of properties on offer at accesible prices. Property owners are forced to provide a quality product and service and those that do so will suceed. Owners that do not comply with the regulations will be fined heavily.
Parasol Property Mallorca is confident that 2019 will be a year to celebrate with the holiday rental market finally legalized. Agents and property owners who continue to provide a good service and product will be recognised.
jandexterparasolproperty 
Hi Jan, I am a villa owner I only wish to let my villa during July and August. Do you know if I can apply for a 60 day licence only and are the costs of this licence cheaper ? Rita
Hi there, No I am afraid not. The 60 day license only allows for 30 days in summer and 30 days at other times of the year so this will not work for you. You will need a full license. Hope this helps. Jan
Hi Jan,
You mention that the licence only lasts for 5 years. Do you then have to pay again when you renew?
Hi Ricky, To be honest I do not think anyone has the answer to that. It is renewable, so you have the places saved and do not need to re-apply but obviously there will be a fee to pay. Sadly just not sure if it will be an admin fee or the whole per bed fee again. I guess we may have to wait 5 years to find out!! The renewal is only for apartment licenses or 60 days licenses. Free standing villas do not expire after 5 years. Hope this helps. Good luck! Jan
Good morning ,
I have been to the town Hall of Calvià and placed en request for zonal permissions but am still waiting . Should I now return and ask if this has been approved prior to doibg anything else ?
Good morning Helen. It depends how long ago you made the request. It took Pollensa town hall 5/6 days and 75€ to provide my certificates. A huge part of Calvia was classed as saturated and not legible for licenses. If you do not have a cedula then you should start applying for that as that can be slow unless its just a copy you need. Good luck. Jan
Hi. Would you offer a service to assist with getting a licence ( obviously for a fee ). I have an apartment in Soller ?
Good morning Ralph, I think that you will find that Soller town is classed as a saturated zone and therefore a license will not be possible. You may be able to apply for a 60 day license IF it is your principal property. This will only allow 30 day rental in the summer months. I would suggest double checking with your town hall of Soller first. Puerto Soller ( except for the historic part) is classed as tourist area so ok.
Hi jan I’m an apartment owner in peurto pollensa sleeps 6 . How much will this cost me for five years and how do I apply straight away. ? I want to get my website up and running for next year ASAP thanks
Hi Amanda. If the cedula de habilidad shows 6 you can apply for 6 tourist places at 875€ per place, payable over 5 years. Some 3 bedroom apartments only show 5 places due to the size of the bedrooms so you need to check this. First papers you require are a valid cedula de habilidad and the certificate from the town hall. These are then presented to Palma and 2 months later the following papers are presented and if all ok you pay and receive provisional license. If you are here in Mallorca we can meet to discuss further if you would like assistance. I prresume that you have the community agreement registered and also individual water meters as without this you will not receive a license.
There are other costs as you will have read in the blog. Good luck. JAN
Thank you so much . I’m in the uk now for a few months so this is going to be a challenge . I don’t even have or can’t find the first piece of paperwork you need ! I will try and fly over ASAP ! If works and flight allow me to do so . We deffinately have 6 beds though . Thanks Jan I’ll be in touch . Do I go online to obtain the first paperwork ?
Hello again. The certificate from the town hall must be applied for in person by yourself or an authorised person. cost 75€. Do you have an up to date cedula de habilidad? The process takes a few months and remember there are limited places available. If you would like to advise which property it is I may be able to help. contact me at jan@parasolpropertymallorca.com
Hi – I want to apply for a licence, but need to check regarding the water meter – we have an individual water meter but we are not invoiced individually- the bill is paid as a community. Will this be a problem?
Hi Lynn, Thank you for reading my blog. I hope that you have found it of interest. The situation seems to become a little more complicated each month. Do you all pay the same amount or does your administrator calculate the individual amounts. I believe that if you have individual meters and each pay for your usage that should be sufficient. They are not willing to offer licenses to communities where everyone pays the same regardless of whether they are occupied or empty which is fair enough. Good luck! Jan
Hi! Do you know if the flat in Bahia Palace, ex apart hotel,at Paseo Maritimo in Palma can be eligable for obtaining the licence?
Hi there. I am not familiar with these apartments so I do not know. However as far as I am aware Palma capital did vote not to accept holiday rentals so this would be a major probem. It may be worth checking that they are not still classified as tourist accomodation. Good luck. Jan
Hi – I wonder if you can help. If you have an in-date Cedula and the appropriate energy cert, approx. how long does it take currently for the whole process to the point were you are legally able to advertise and rent out. (whole process being application to town hall and then Palma) Is it weeks, months or many months from start to finish. I appreciate you can’t be precise, but it would help to know if it is currently talking 6 weeks or 6 months!
Many thanks
Hi Lynn, I hope you found my info helpful. I am not sure how long your town hall takes to produce the certificate. Each town hall takes a different length of time but Pollensa is around one month. Once you have the cedula and the town hall certificate you can apply for the tourist places and that takes approx. 20 days at the moment. After that you pay 20% of the license fee, and prodcue the DRIAT and other papers… water bill, energy certificate, insurance, etc etc. The moment that Palma stamp these as received you can begin to advertise using the registration number that they give you. So to answer your final question.. around 2-3 months. Easter is on the way so that may cause further delays. GOOD LUCK. Jan
Hi lynn . I am currently in pp sorting my last bit of paperwork out . It has taken me since October and still not there . Just waiting now for the licence number . Done all of the above long hard slog but hopefully be worth it . A lot aren’t bothering or selling but I am . I’ll let you know when I’m finished. Hope all well kind regards Amanda .
Just to let you both know that the latest application for the tourist places took less than 10 days. This is from applying to the `bolsa´for 6 tourist places to the Palma office advising that they are available and asking for the first 20% payment. Speedy work. Now for the final presentation of papers and my client will be able to start advertising their beautiful 3 bedroom apartment hopefully within the next week.
Thanks Jan – very interesting. I’m told Santanyi Town Hall are very slow! Can I please check my understanding with you. Once Palma have stamped your papers they issue an “interim” number – at this point (providing you are registered to record your guests details with the local police and you have paid the tourist tax) – you are legal to start to advertise and rent. I’ve been told that you have to have a formal inspection before they issue the final tourist registration number – but that this could take a long time as they have many to do. Someone said it could take up to a year??? ThanksLynn
Hello again. That is correct. The number is provided when you present the completed DRIAT with the necessary documents and payment of first 20% of the license fee. You agree that you have also signed up for tourist tax collection with hacienda and paid the `tourist activity´tax. Pollensa town hall reviews the applications once a month, around the 20th of each month. I understand Alaro town hall also takes several months! Each town hall is different it seems. Formal inspections are not carried out on all properties and yes, can take well over one year. Once you have presented the DRIAT in the following months they do tend to ask for other papers, i.e. house deeds, clearer copies of the insurance policy which must state holiday rentals and must be written in spanish and in euros, community papers, etc. Its never ending! Good luck.