A British couple have spent the past 10 years living in a makeshift settlement on the coast of Mallorca, and now hope to return to the UK.
The couple live in the Son Veri area of Llucmajor, overlooking the Bay of Palma. Their home consists of a tent, cooking utensils, plates, bottles and a few pieces of furniture, set among walls made from marés, a traditional Mallorcan sandstone.
Speaking to local newspaper Ultima Hora, Stevie, one of the couple, explained that they had been living there for a decade but were saving money to return to Britain. “It’s not the life we wanted,” he said.
British couple share life in makeshift Mallorca settlement
According to the report published on October 22, both, partners, work and take turns staying at the settlement so that someone is there to look after their belongings at all times. Stevie said the Local Police in Llucmajor, the Guardia Civil and long-established residents in the area knew they were living there.
The couple say they do not want trouble and have tried to keep their living space clean and tidy. However, their unusual home has attracted the attention of walkers and tourists, some of whom stop to look at the settlement. They have asked people not to photograph them, saying they simply want to live in peace.
Summer heat makes outdoor living difficult
Life beside the Mediterranean may look appealing from a distance, but the couple describe difficult conditions during the hottest months.
Stevie said summer was particularly hard because the site receives many hours of direct sunlight. Milder days in winter, spring and autumn are more comfortable, although strong winds can also cause problems because of the exposed coastal location. The couple have also experienced theft, including the loss of a bicycle.
Despite the difficulties, they told the newspaper they felt happy in their surroundings, even with the homes overlooking the bay beyond their settlement remaining beyond their financial reach.
Housing pressures in Mallorca
Their circumstances come against a backdrop of mounting concern about housing affordability in the Balearic Islands, where high property prices and pressure on accommodation have become major local issues. But also, their story is one of many about failed dreams of a better life in Spain that many others have suffered over the years, and that have only become compounded since Brexit.
Euro Weekly News previously reported on families at risk as Mallorca’s housing costs rise, with housing organisations warning that increasing rents and stagnant wages were putting residents under growing pressure.
The problem is also reflected in the regional housing figures. According to the Balearic Islands Housing Observatory, the number of rented homes in the islands doubled between 2011 and 2024, reaching 87,759. Average monthly rents under existing contracts also exceeded €9 per square metre across the islands in 2024.
The Observatory’s figures provide wider context for the pressures facing residents, although they do not establish the reasons behind this particular couple’s circumstances.
For now, their stated priority is to save enough money to leave Mallorca and return to Britain after 10 years on the island.