With rules of its own
Coliving regulation in the Balearic Islands, Spain: housing with complementary common spaces (2026)
Yes. Llei 3/2024 de mesures urgents en matèria d'habitatge (Balearic Act 3/2024 on urgent housing measures) added housing with complementary common spaces to Llei 5/2018 de l'habitatge (Balearic Housing Act 5/2018): a residential form, public or private, to meet housing needs on a transitional basis in return for rent or a fee. It goes on residential plots, except single-family ones, is a single registered property, does not allow horizontal property and has one certificate for the whole building. Each unit has 24 m² plus a 2 m² bathroom.
The general guide to coliving regulation in Spain →
The short answer
The Balearic Islands have a figure of their own, with the same name as Catalonia's —allotjament amb espais comuns complementaris (housing with complementary common spaces)— and tighter rules on ownership. Decret llei 6/2023, de 2 d'octubre (Decree-Law 6/2023) created it; Act 3/2024 repealed that decree-law and, through its 4th additional provision, moved the figure into Housing Act 5/2018, in force from the day after its publication (fourth final provision). The preamble of Act 3/2024 links it to what is known as "coallotjament" (coliving); the articles do not use that word.
In short: it is a residential and transitional form; it goes on plots where residential uses are allowed, except single-family residential; it is set up as a single registered property; it is not subject to horizontal property; and the certificate of occupancy is one for the whole building.
What the rule says
Allotjament amb espais comuns complementaris: modalitat residencial, pública o privada, destinada a resoldre de forma transitòria, mitjançant el pagament d'una renda o cànon, la necessitat d'habitatge de persones o unitats de convivència […]. Aquests allotjaments es poden implantar a parcel·les amb usos residencials permesos pel planejament o per una disposició normativa que així ho determini, llevat del residencial unifamiliar; s'han de configurar com a una única unitat registral i es poden destinar a la totalitat d'un immoble o part d'aquest. ("Housing with complementary common spaces: a residential form, public or private, intended to meet on a transitional basis, through payment of rent or a fee, the housing needs of people or household units […]. This housing may be established on plots where residential uses are allowed by planning or by a provision so determining, except single-family residential; it must be set up as a single registered property and may take up the whole or part of a building.")
Three features follow. It is a residential form, public or private. It meets a transitional housing need, with payment of rent or a fee. And it can take up a whole building or part of one, but always as a single registered property. The definition adds that the private space is complemented by "proporcionals" (proportionate) common spaces where community activities that support living together take place.
The 7th transitional provision, published in BOIB no. 61 of 9 May 2024, sets the conditions until regulations exist. The units fall into the category of residential-use buildings in Art. 3 of Decree 145/1997 on habitability, and each residential unit counts as one home for density purposes (TP 7(4)).
The conditions
| Condition | What it requires | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Plot | With residential uses allowed, except single-family residential | Art. 4(v) |
| Land registry | A single registered property, for the whole building or part of it | Art. 4(v) |
| Horizontal property | Not subject to it | TP 7(1) |
| Certificate of occupancy | One for the whole building; if it takes up official protection, the protected-housing classification replaces it on first transfer | TP 7(1) |
| Private space | All-purpose room (TU) of 24 m² for living, cooking, eating and sleeping, and a bathroom of 2 m², visually separate | TP 7(2)(c) |
| Common areas | At least 5 m² of usable area per unit, enclosed, covered and part of the building; shared out without counting circulation space | TP 7(2)(c) and (2)(e) |
| Laundry | Not required inside the unit if there are common spaces reachable by an accessible route in the building | TP 7(2)(d) |
| Density | Each residential unit counts as one home | TP 7(4) |
Source: Act 3/2024, 4th additional provision, BOIB no. 61 of 9 May 2024.
Each unit must also have the minimum private space for preparing, storing and keeping food provided for in Decree 145/1997 (TP 7(2)(d)), and meet the other measurement, hygiene and installation conditions of its Annex I (TP 7(2)(g)).
What the rule does not say
Worth knowing
"Transitòria" (transitional) comes with no term: the act does not say how long a stay may last. Nor does it require an operator or manager, or mention price except where the unit is protected housing (TP 7(3)). And although the preamble speaks of "coallotjament", the articles do not use the word "coliving". The floor areas are transitional: they apply until the habitability regulations are issued.
What doesn't change
The contract with the resident and the obligations of running the operation do not depend on the region, and they are in the general guide to coliving regulation in Spain. To choose between a residential tenancy and another use, see LAU: residential or other use.
Frequently asked questions
Can I open a coliving space in a flat inside a residential block in the Balearic Islands?
The rule does not settle it expressly. Article 4(v) allows this figure to take up the whole or part of a building, but it requires a single registered property, and the 7th transitional provision says this housing shall not be subject to the horizontal property regime. How a flat inside a building that is already divided fits is something to check before the project.
Is a certificate of occupancy required?
Yes, but only one. The 7th transitional provision, paragraph 1, of Llei 5/2018 says the certificate of occupancy shall be one for the whole building. If the units take up the official protection regime, on first transfer the protected-housing classification replaces it.
Can it be divided into horizontal property?
No. The 7th transitional provision, paragraph 1, says this housing shall not be subject to the horizontal property regime, and Article 4(v) requires it to be set up as a single registered property. It is stricter than in Catalonia, where the prohibition applies to a building they take up entirely and, if only part, that part is a single private element.
How much floor area does each unit need?
Until there are regulations, the 7th transitional provision, paragraph 2(c), requires an all-purpose room of 24 square metres for living, cooking, eating and sleeping, plus a visually separate bathroom of 2 square metres, and common areas of at least 5 square metres of usable area per unit, enclosed, covered and part of the building.
How long can a resident live there?
The act does not set it. Article 4(v) speaks of meeting housing needs on a transitional basis through payment of rent or a fee, but gives no minimum or maximum term. The length is set by the contract, and the contract follows the Urban Leases Act according to what the person lives there for.
Other regions
- MadridRules of its own since November 2023: the "residencia compartida" (shared residence) of the General Plan's Planning Rules, a residential use allowed only in a dedicated building.
- CataloniaRules of its own since December 2020: housing with complementary common spaces under Llei 18/2007, with a certificate of occupancy and no horizontal division of the building.
- Valencian CommunityPartial rules: Act 3/2023 only regulates not-for-profit collaborative housing; operator-run coliving has no figure of its own, and the city of València is processing it in its General Plan.
- GaliciaRules of its own since 1 January 2026: shared accommodation under Act 8/2012, by public or private developers and with 30 m² of usable area per unit.
- AndalusiaPartial rules: Act 5/2025 has defined coliving (Art. 4(j)) since 24 January 2026, but the minimum floor area depends on regulations that have not been issued.
- Basque CountryPartial rules: Decree 80/2022 only sets the habitability of collaborative housing; use, licensing and the contract have no rule of their own.
- Canary IslandsRules of its own since February 2024: housing with complementary common spaces under Act 2/2003 and the floor areas of Decree-Law 1/2024, with regulations pending.