One of Majorca’s most beautiful towns has thousands of vacant homes. Soller, a charming and picturesque town that oozes charm, is located near the northwestern coast and is just over half an hour away from Palma, the capital.

The lack of affordable housing has been pointed out as one of the main factors why 2,000 homes in the Paradise Home are empty, according to information from the National Statistics Institute and the Balearic Government. The new figures show that although Soller has witnessed a building boom over the past 15 years, the population has remained largely unchanged. Between 2011 and 2021 824 new homes were built, however,  the number of primary residences has remained around the same at approximately 5,260.

The disconcerting figures highlight that 14% of Soller’s homes are vacant, this is more than double when compared to 14 years ago. There were 1,119 empty homes in 2021 compared with 570 in 2011.

The number of empty homes were identified by zero or little electricity and water consumption.

In contrast second homes in the town have increased by nine percent, accounting for 17.6% of the total. Despite Majorca wishing to clamp down on tourists it is estimated that 1,740 homes in Soller are holiday homes.

In a huge blow to locals the number registered holiday rental accommodation beds is nearly as high as the number of hotel beds, according to The Soller Hoteliers Association.

Figures highlight there are 3,313 holiday rental accommodation beds compared to 3,501 hotel beds. 

Soller has witnessed a significant increase in property prices, particularly in 2024, making them the most expensive in Spain.

Majorca, and much of the rest of Spain, is gripped by a housing crisis, which anti-tourism activists pin primarily on the high demand for properties from tourists, expats and foreign buyers with significant purchasing power, coupled with an unsatisfactory supply of new housing. This has led to rapidly rising prices that are pricing out locals.

In Palma, prices to rent single rooms, not even whole flats, can get to around 600 euros (£502), while a three-bedroom flat costs 1,600 euros (£1,339).