Second Home Owners Banned From Mallorca Plead To Be Allowed In

Locked-out expats with second homes in Mallorca cause online outrage for pleading to be allowed to return.

Hundreds of expatriate second-home residents and business owners at present locked out of Mallorca due to the pandemic are urging the island’s government to allow them to return. An open letter sent to the authority compared their exclusion to a violation of the island’s property laws and a breach of the freedom allowed to non-tourist expats who pax tax and contribute to the local economy. Furthermore, they’re stating their exclusion is causing irreparable damage to the island’s reputation as a hub for investors looking for properties or considering opening new businesses.

Although the appeal has gained supporters in the UK, it’s prompted a huge social media backlash including negative comments to the posters of the open letter. Most respondents state they should respect the decree and stay in their home countries until the pandemic subsides worldwide. Other annoyed respondents are pointing out the ban isn’t just aimed at expats, as many thousands of Mallorcans are also unable to return, with more accusing the protestors of disrespect for the Spanish government at this difficult time. The government’s stance is that its measures put in place to defeat the pandemic are state-enforced and do not discriminate in any way by nationality.

Meanwhile, a British expat living with his partner in Estepona is attempting to raise donations for his home-based dog shelter by wearing a dog cone on his head. Russ Goodwin has been wearing the uncomfortable cone since last Monday and intends to keep it on until late on Friday. To date he’s raised 733 euros for his home-based HEART dog shelter and its 36 rescued dogs. The couple both have jobs, making juggling between work and their dogs meaning they’ve no down time, but it’s all worth it for them.