Long-term, seasonal or holiday rental in Mallorca? How to tell which you’re being offered
The advert says ‘long term’, but the owner wants the flat back for summer. Another says ‘seasonal’, even though you plan to live there year-round. Ask for the contract before you pay to reserve the place. Start by working out what the property will actually be used for.
A home you’ll live in year-round
If the property will be your usual home, ask for a main-home agreement, often labelled arrendamiento de vivienda habitual. Find the start date, the renewal terms and the rent-review clause. Ask for the notice rules and a written breakdown of the deposit and any additional guarantee.
A temporary place while you’re away from home
A temporary residential contract can fit a placement, a course or a fixed-term assignment when you have a usual home elsewhere. Spain’s updated Urban Leases Act requires a genuine, provable temporary reason to be set out in the contract. If the dates are the only explanation offered, ask the agent to explain which circumstances make your stay temporary.
A holiday booking
A holiday let is typically booked for a visit through a host, operator or platform. Ask for the booking and cancellation terms, the full price and the registration or licence details applicable to the listing. A furnished flat can also be let as someone’s usual home. The furniture tells you very little about the agreement.
The question to ask about a room
If you’re renting a room, ask how the agreement describes your stay and what access you have to the kitchen, bathroom and other shared space. Get the rent, bills and notice period in writing. Spain’s updated law can cover a room as a main home or a temporary residence, depending on its use.
Sources and related guides
Our guide to an 11-month rental
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