Mallorca residents forced to live in caravans due to soaring rents

Spanish educator Santi Baeza has been living and working from a converted van for five years. He states this lifestyle saves him at least €750 per month by eliminating rent and utility bills.

The Spanish van converter Ciclope is seeking dealers in Germany for its new Mencia camper series based on the Maxus Deliver 9 van. The 5.94-meter-long models come in three versions, with prices starting at €51,231 in Spain. Standard equipment includes a 150 hp diesel engine, induction hob, compressor refrigerator, and a dry toilet.

The Más Madrid party has proposed converting a former truck parking area in Valdelaparra into a regulated, free space for caravans, motorhomes, and special vehicles. The motion aims to address the increase in illegal parking of such vehicles in the urban area. The proposal includes studying the addition of services like a waste water disposal point and a public vehicle wash.

The Dora Camper Studio project from Marín in Galicia has won the IATI 2026 award for Best Camper Content. The studio, founded by a couple, specializes in the design and conversion of camper vans. Their social media content reaches millions, with some videos exceeding 20 million views.

On the Canary Islands, some residents are turning to permanent van and motorhome living due to high housing costs. For instance, one retiree gave his apartment to his son, who could not afford rent, and now lives in a fully equipped van. Another hotel worker uses a motorhome to avoid rental costs that would exceed half of his salary.

Camper vans are available for rent at reduced prices in January. Rental costs start from 60 euros per night, which is significantly lower than summer rates. This is due to low seasonal demand after the New Year holidays.