Since 8 October 2026, a mid-term rental (alquiler de temporada) in Spain, including the Balearic Islands, is its own type of residential lease: under Royal Decree-law 29/2026 the contract must state a real, provable reason for living somewhere temporarily and last more than 31 days and, as a general rule, no more than 12 months. As of 27 October 2026, confirmation by the Spanish Congress (convalidación) has been with the Diputación Permanente since 13 October, with no result yet.
This applies in Mallorca to owners and tenants, for every contract signed from 8 October 2026. If you let your home for a few months to someone with such a reason, you let it under the Spanish tenancy law (LAU), not with a tourist rental licence (ETV).
Let your free months in Mallorca.
- Listing is free. 8% + VAT = 9.68% incl. only on rent paid.
- You confirm every tenant yourself.
- You set the dates and the price.
What is new?
Until now, a mid-term rental counted as a lease for a use other than housing (former Art. 3 LAU). The parties could agree almost everything freely.
It is now called “arrendamiento de vivienda temporal” and belongs to residential leases (Art. 2.3 LAU). It covers people who live away from their usual home for a specific reason for a while, for example for work, studies or while their own home is being renovated.
The term must be more than 31 days and, as a general rule, no more than 12 months (Art. 9 bis LAU). If a contract runs longer than 12 months without justification, or more than two such contracts between the same parties for the same home follow one another, the contract counts as an ordinary residential lease.
Contracts signed before 8 October 2026 keep the previous rules until their agreed end date and are not extended. If one is renewed, the new law applies.
What must the contract state?
The reason for the temporary stay must be stated expressly in the contract. It must be real and provable, and the landlord has to prove it (Art. 7.2 LAU). Without it, the contract counts retroactively as an ordinary residential lease.
The contract also sets out the period, the rent and the costs. The landlord may not pass on property management or contract formalisation costs to the tenant (Art. 20.2 LAU).
The landlord keeps the home habitable; which repairs they cover is set by tenancy law. For move-out, the law provides for a document on the condition of the home signed by both parties. If there is none, or it lists no damage, the home is presumed to have been returned in good condition unless proven otherwise (Art. 36.7 LAU).
Do I need an ETV?
The ETV is an authorisation under Balearic tourism law. It covers offering a home to tourists. The tenancy law expressly excludes that use (Art. 5 e LAU).
If you let for more than 31 days to someone with a real temporary housing reason, that is a mid-term rental under the LAU. What counts is the actual use, not the title of the contract. Anyone offering the home to tourists or providing hotel services remains under tourism law.
Other duties remain: you must be entitled to let the home, it must be habitable, and you check community rules, the energy certificate and any registrations separately.
What does it mean for tenants?
Your reason and your period are stated in the contract. Describe your actual reason, because the contract rests on it.
After at least one month from signing, you can end the contract with 10 days’ notice (Art. 11.2 LAU). You do not pay property management or contract formalisation costs.
Which repairs the landlord covers is set by tenancy law; damage you cause is not part of that. When you move out, it is best to record the condition of the home together in writing. Photos can help but do not replace such a document.
How does it work on MUVAWAY?
On MUVAWAY I bring tenants and landlords together and handle the payment. Bookings run from 32 nights to 12 months, furnished.
The tenant books and introduces themselves in their own words, including their reason. The landlord reads it and confirms. I record the reason, period, rent, deposit and utilities in the booking confirmation; it is your contract document.
In the listing, the landlord confirms that they are entitled to let and do not offer tourist use. The landlord pays the platform fee: 8 % + IVA on each monthly payment made.
For a cancellation before move-in: Free of charge up to 14 days before move-in (inclusive). If you cancel later, the landlord can keep at most your first month’s rent. We calculate the exact amount according to the law.
Mid-term rental for landlords · What the booking confirmation records · ETV and temporary housing
Updated: 27 October 2026. Royal Decree-law 29/2026 is dated 6 October 2026, was published in the BOE no. 249 on 7 October 2026 and has been in force since 8 October 2026. Confirmation by the Spanish Congress (convalidación) has been with the Diputación Permanente since 13 October 2026, with no result yet (Congress, initiative 130/000060); none has been recorded in the BOE so far. If the legal position changes, I will update this guide. General information, not legal advice and no guarantee. Actual use, applicable law and the version saved for your booking are decisive.
RDL 29/2026 · BOE-A-2026-20823 · LAU · Art. 2, 5, 7, 9 bis, 11, 20, 36, DT 8 · Ley 8/2012 · Art. 50