Brits hoping to buy property on one of the idyllic Balearic Islands could soon face a ban as local politicians move to tackle soaring prices and a shortage of housing for residents. Lawmakers in Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera are preparing to debate a controversial proposal from the left-wing Més per Mallorca party that would ban non-residents from buying property unless they’ve lived on the islands for at least five years.

The plan is aimed at foreign buyers – including many Brits – who critics say have helped push homes out of reach for locals and young people. Government data shows around 90,000 properties in the Balearic archipelago are owned by non-Spaniards – about 16% of the housing stock. Brits have been especially active, with roughly 12,000 homes bought across Spain in 2024, according to property portal Idealista.

“We have to prioritise the houses that are for living in,” Més per Mallorca MP Lluis Apesteguia told the Daily Mail. “Not for those who want to speculate and continue with this game of Monopoly.”

The regional government is cracking down on short-term holiday rentals, which have been blamed for removing homes from the long-term market. Councils have sharply limited licences in hotspots like Palma, Ibiza Town and Magaluf, while new tourist rental licences in Palma are now banned altogether. 

Owners must now register properties before offering them as short-term lets or face fines up to €500,000 (£437,000) for unauthorised rentals, in a bid to reduce overtourism and ease rental pressures.

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Rents have continued to climb, with average prices in the Balearics rising more than 8% in 2025 – around €19.10 (£16.70) per square metre – and even steeper in areas such as Ibiza.

The proposal now heads to debate in the Balearic Parliament, where its supporters argue it will prioritise residents over speculators, while opponents warn it could chill investment and face legal hurdles.

This comes as Spain as a whole steps up a nationwide housing crackdown, with authorities forcing tens of thousands of unlicensed holiday lets off platforms and cities tightening rental and purchase rules to cool spiralling costs. In a dramatic turn last year, Barcelona won court backing to phase out all short‑term holiday rentals by 2028, effectively banning Airbnb‑style lets to free up thousands of homes for residents and combat its own housing shortage.