OP columnist Amanda Butler delighted that Mallorca Observatory may have star buyer

I AM delighted to report that we have had success in finding a potential buyer for the Mallorca Observatory, after my column in the Olive Press last month.

A Dutch development company are preparing a feasibility study on behalf of a foreign university into enhancing the facilities – to include accommodation – and develop it into an International Centre for Astrological Study.

This will be a great resource for local schools, as well as students abroad and, of course, it will also stay open to the public.
So, as they say in Fleet Street…watch this ‘space’!

Rental battle

On other matters, the rental market is again a key focus in the Balearic Islands, with the government trying once again to crack down on illegal short term holiday rentals.

Since it is apparently not permitted to contact renters using false aliases, they are instead using neighbourhood sources and police to surprise unsuspecting holidaymakers and – as of last week – are actually cracking down on local rental agencies and fining them instead for any illegal properties on their books.

Unique to the Balearic Islands and Catalonia, this action is being fought in the EU courts by companies such as Airbnb.

With such a powerful hotel lobby arguing that apartments are unfair competition, this will be a difficult battle to win, but personally I feel the government is missing out on a substantial additional revenue stream from a different clientele to that of the hotel market… particularly small families with children wishing for more private space.

It is against owner’s rights to be denied the option to rent out as they wish, so long as they declare the income. So why shouldn’t an individual be permitted the chance to earn extra income of renting a room if it means they make their mortgage payments.

In my own case, I was stopped from short term renting my ageing father’s apartment when he was taken into care in order to pay for his care home costs. Shouldn’t there be exceptions to the rule?

Property of the week

3 bed frontline apartment in Puerto Portals – €985.000

Location Location Location!  This three bedroom frontline apartment is situated in the heart of the exclusive Puerto Portals Marina, with direct access to the Marina itself. The apartment comprises of an open plan lounge/dining room with sliding patio doors leading to a spacious full length terrace, fully fitted open plan modern kitchen with breakfast bar, three double bedrooms, and two bathrooms, master en-suite with a jacuzzi bath. The terrace has views over the yachts moored in the marina. The apartment includes a covered garage space.