Majorcans slammed for profiting from tourists while 'moaning about them'

A Majorcan agent has slammed home sellers for profiting from foreign buyers while "complaining" about them. Maria Antonia Bermejo told Diario de Mallorca that agents sell properties to buyers for "outrageous" prices to earn more money.

The agent from the Gestpropiedad agency in said: "We are talking about €300,000 or €400,000 for a flat covering just 80m2. It's outrageous as they speculate too much with prices and are waiting for a foreigner to pay what they want." The agent added: "Majorcans complain but they are the ones selling properties to foreign buyers to earn more money."

Currently on , a 55-square-foot one-bedroom one-bathroom apartment in the tourist hotspot of Soller is being marketed for £324,678 (€385,000).

Her comments coincide with a fresh wave of which called for greater regulation on holiday lets and tourist housing, among other demands.

As visitor numbers reached record highs, calls have been made to preserve housing for locals in popular tourist hotspots in Spain, the Balearics, and the Canary Islands.

There was widespread concern over a lack of housing due to homes being swept up in unregulated holiday lets, where houses were being let out without tourist licenses.

Now, the most serious offenders can be fined up to £425,635 (€500,000) for unregulated holiday lets without tourist licenses.

There is also currently for holiday rentals in the Balearic Islands.