Spanish Evicted Pensioner to Return Home Amid Housing Crisis Protests
An 87-year-old woman, whose eviction sparked nationwide demonstrations, will move back into her Madrid apartment.
Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old pensioner who became a symbol of Spain's housing crisis, will be able to return to her home of more than 70 years, her lawyer announced. Abascal was forcibly removed from her Madrid apartment on September 23 and subsequently admitted to the hospital.
The eviction ignited widespread public anger and prompted Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to promise housing relief measures. Abascal's lawyer, Beatriz Duro, stated that a new rental agreement has been reached, with Abascal agreeing to pay a similar rent to her original contract, thus avoiding a significant price increase.
Duro attributed the resolution to "goodwill from both parties" and the "social mobilization" that followed the eviction. Abascal, who is being treated for exhaustion, is expected to sign the agreement once she feels better.
Abascal's father first rented the apartment in 1956, and she continued to reside there after her parents' deaths under a rent-controlled agreement. However, the investment firm Urbagestión, which purchased the property in 2018, sought to increase the rent from €500 per month to €2,650. Although the company later offered a reduction to €1,650, this remained unaffordable for Abascal, whose monthly pension is €1,350. Previous attempts to evict her had been unsuccessful.
The case drew national attention, leading to tens of thousands of people marching in Madrid to protest the eviction and advocate for stronger tenant protections amidst a housing shortage and escalating rents. The Bank of Spain estimates a shortfall of 700,000 homes in the country.
Supporters hailed the outcome as a victory but vowed to continue their advocacy for affordable housing and to prevent similar evictions. The Spanish government is reportedly considering new legislation to address public outrage over housing affordability.