Eviction of 87-Year-Old Woman Highlights Spain's Housing Crisis
The case of Maricarmen, a tenant for seven decades, has drawn national attention to soaring rents and a shortage of affordable housing.
An 87-year-old woman, known as Maricarmen, has been evicted from her Madrid home of 70 years, a situation that has intensified scrutiny of Spain's escalating housing crisis. The eviction, which took place on Wednesday in the Retiro area of central Madrid, was met with protests where demonstrators clashed with police.
Maricarmen was reportedly unable to meet her rent obligations after the investment firm Urbagestión, which acquired the property in 2018, significantly raised her monthly payment. The rent increased from €500 to €2,650, although a subsequent offer was made to reduce it to €1,650. However, this figure remained unaffordable for Maricarmen, whose pension amounts to €1,350 per month.
This case has brought to the forefront the broader issues of rising rental costs and the scarcity of available housing across Spain. The incident has sparked widespread discussion about the impact of investment firms on the rental market and the vulnerability of long-term residents facing steep rent hikes.