Ibiza Ramps Up Fight Against Illegal Housing and Transport

The project

Strain from illegal holiday rentals and unregulated transport services is currently a key factor behind imbalance in the housing market and mobility in Ibiza. In response, an action plan has been devised under the broader 2024–2025 Annual Plan, which aims to strengthen inspection capacity and reduce the time between reporting and fines being issued, a delay which had fuelled a general sense of impunity for offenders.

The plan specifically provides for more human resources, including inspection teams, instructors and administrative staff specialising in tourism and transport, as well as a technical office for overall coordination. This deployment also includes the implementation of new IT tools, including geolocation systems, integrated case management and web scraping techniques to detect illegal advertising on digital platforms.

A core feature of the plan is collaboration between local councils across the island and local police. The plan foresees joint inspections, sharing of information and support for municipal departments in processing urban planning fines, closures and vehicle removals. This coordination aims to close the administrative loop and reduce the time it takes between the detection of illegal activity and its effective resolution.

The operation also includes a communications strategy targeted towards residents, property owners and tourists, which includes campaigns in the media, social networks and public spaces. With a total investment of over €22 million planned until 2027, this action plan allows the island to structure a solid response against illegal activity, with a direct impact on the availability of housing, legal certainty within the sector, and the overall quality of the tourism destination.