La lista de espera para un piso del Ibavi se dispara: hay casi 10.000 familias de Baleares en la cola

The article, authored by Nekane Domblás and published by Ultima Hora, reports on the dramatic rise in the waiting list for public housing administered by the Institut Balear de la Vivienda (Ibavi) in the Balearic Islands. Ultima Hora is a prominent regional newspaper in Mallorca, and Domblás is a journalist covering local social and housing issues. The piece highlights the scale of unmet housing demand and the regional government’s response, framing the data as a measure of broader affordability challenges.

At the time of reporting, nearly 10 000 families (9 296 exact) are on the Ibavi waiting list, with 6 032 of those families residing in Mallorca. This represents an increase of almost 20 % compared to the previous year, when 7 864 families were registered in 2024. Over the past four years the list has grown by roughly 50 %, rising from under 5 000 families to the current level.

The surge in demand is attributed primarily to a sharp rise in property prices across the islands, which have escalated by about 80 % over the last decade. This price inflation has outpaced wage growth, leaving many households—despite being employed—unable to secure affordable homes.

The Balearic Government acknowledges the waiting‑list data as evidence of a housing crisis and has incorporated public‑housing construction as a central pillar of its “plan de choque”. Approximately 900 public housing units linked to Ibavi projects are currently in the pipeline, with expectations of further increases as new collaborations with municipal authorities advance.

Recent legislation liberalising land use introduces a residency requirement of at least five years for applicants, with a preference for those residing in the municipality where the new housing will be built. The law also creates an expedited procedural track to accelerate the approval and construction phases of public‑housing projects.

The regional government’s rhetoric, exemplified by statements such as “Construir, construir i construir”, underscores a commitment to large‑scale building programmes. The emphasis is on delivering new units that are specifically allocated to residents of the Balearic Islands, aiming to alleviate the pressure on the waiting list.

• Total families on Ibavi waiting list: 9 296
• Families from Mallorca: 6 032
• Year‑on‑year growth (2024‑2025): ≈ 20 %
• Four‑year growth (2021‑2025): ≈ 50 %
• Public housing units in process: ≈ 900

The rapid increase in demand, driven by soaring house prices, signals a need for sustainable, affordable housing solutions across the Balearic archipelago. The government’s focus on public‑housing construction, accelerated approval procedures, and residency‑based allocation aims to address both the quantity and localisation of new homes, aligning with broader European objectives for socially inclusive and environmentally responsible housing development.