Ibiza is facing a housing crisis unprecedented. The high cost of housing, especially in the rental sector, is forcing many residents, both locals and essential workers, to leave the island.
One of the most shocking cases is the room rental which, in sought-after areas of the island, have exceeded 1,400 euros per month. This price, which in other contexts might correspond to a full apartment, reflects the chilling escalation of room rental costs on an island already suffering from a housing crisis.
The price of housing in Ibiza has increased considerably in recent years due to high demand from tourists and international residents and illegal vacation rentals.
This phenomenon has led owners to raise prices to the detriment of local residents, who are forced to live in precarious conditions or even leave the island.
The lack of affordable housing is leading to a worker flight especially in key sectors such as hospitality, commerce and services. This, in turn, is putting increasing pressure on the local economy and affecting the quality of life on the island.
1.400 euros for a room
Just take a look at one of the most used portals to find a rental on the island: Idealista. Of the forty or so rooms that are currently advertised for rent (this figure is will multiply exponentially as soon as the summer season begins to appear), it is already normal that most of them exceed 800 euros. But there are much more expensive, such as one that is advertised in the area of Puig d’en Valls at 1,400 euros per month.
The advertiser, who does not attach photos, does not offer much information about the property either. And is that in Ibiza the owners do not have much need to ‘dress up’ their rental ads. The need to find a place to live is such, especially when the increasingly scarce workers from outside the island begin to arrive, that anything goes as long as they have a roof to sleep under.
These situations raise many urgent questions about the sustainability of the tourism model and the need for implement public policies that favor access to housing for residents. In the meantime, the inhabitants of Ibiza face an uncertain future, with a rental market that is already unattainable for many.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.