Where buyers get caught out
Investors still buy apartments in Ibiza expecting holiday rental income. Since 2018, holiday rentals in apartments in multi-family buildings are not permitted on the island. An apartment can be a good investment for long-term or seasonal letting, but the numbers must be calculated on that basis.
The community of owners
We request the certificate of debts from the community administrator and the minutes of recent meetings. They reveal approved levies for façades, lifts, roofs or pools, legal disputes and any statutes that restrict uses. Approved levies pending payment should be allocated to the seller in the contract.
Terraces, penthouses and works
Closed terraces, rooftop pools and penthouse extensions are common in Ibiza and often lack a licence. They can also affect common elements of the building and require the community's consent. We compare the registry, the Cadastre and the licences before you sign.
Parking, storage and the registry
A parking space or storage room may be a separate registry unit or a share of a common area. The contract and the deed must include them expressly, with their own registry and cadastral data.
Rental: what is possible
| Use | Possible in an Ibiza apartment? |
|---|---|
| Holiday rental to tourists | No, in multi-family buildings |
| Long-term rental | Yes, under the urban leases law |
| Seasonal rental (work, studies) | Yes, with a genuine seasonal purpose |
| Own use | Yes |
See tourist rental licences in Ibiza and landlord and tenant law.
Where apartments are bought
Most apartment purchases are in Ibiza Town, Talamanca, Playa d'en Bossa, Santa Eulària and Sant Antoni. The process is otherwise the same as any purchase: see our property lawyer service. Ibiza.law is part of Castell.law.
An illustrative example
Based on situations we commonly see; not a specific client. A buyer from London found a penthouse in Ibiza Town with a large terrace and an agent's estimate of holiday rental income. Our review showed that the building was multi-family, so holiday rentals were not possible, that part of the terrace had been closed without a licence and that the community had approved a façade levy two months earlier. The buyer negotiated a lower price, allocated the levy to the seller and bought the flat as a home with long-term rental as the alternative.
Before you sign or pay, ask a lawyer
Send us the document, the listing or a short summary of the problem. A lawyer will tell you what matters, what it could cost you and what to do next.
Questions about buying an apartment in Ibiza
Can I rent my Ibiza apartment on holiday platforms?
No, if it is in a multi-family building. Holiday rentals of apartments are not allowed in Ibiza.
Who pays the levies approved before the sale?
It depends on the contract. We allocate approved levies to the seller so that you do not pay for decisions taken before you bought.
Do community debts pass to the buyer?
The flat answers for the current year's debts and those of the three previous years, so we obtain the debt certificate before completion.
Is the parking space included?
Only if the contract and the deed say so. Many are separate registry units.