87‑year‑old Madrid tenant evicted amid housing crisis protests

An 87‑year‑old woman, identified as Maricarmen Abascal, was evicted from an apartment in Madrid’s affluent Retiro neighbourhood on Wednesday after living there for more than seven decades. The eviction was carried out after the property, owned by the investment fund Urbagestion, raised her monthly rent by 275 percent. She was given only 30 minutes to vacate with essential belongings, and was removed on a stretcher by police and social‑services officials before being taken away in an ambulance. The episode was broadcast live on television and sparked immediate protests outside the building, with supporters chanting her name and condemning the action.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the scene, and the protest quickly spread to other parts of the city. Within hours, thousands of people took to the streets in Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities, demanding an end to what they described as a broader housing crisis. Government officials publicly criticised the eviction order, while the landlord’s representatives and court officials declined to suspend the eviction despite a pending court filing and humanitarian appeals made by Abascal’s lawyer, Beatriz Duro.

The case has become a flashpoint in a long‑running debate over Spain’s housing policies ahead of next year’s general election. Real‑estate data show that the average price of a square metre for both rental and purchase properties has risen by roughly 50 percent across Spain in the past decade, according to the portal Idealista and official statistics. Madrid, in particular, has topped a global ranking for luxury properties compiled by the real‑estate firm Barnes for two consecutive years, underscoring the city’s sharp price increases.

Consumer‑rights group OCU has warned that finding an affordable apartment in Madrid has become increasingly difficult, a sentiment echoed by housing analysts who point to a limited supply of low‑cost housing and the growing influence of investment funds in the rental market. The landlord, Urbagestion, reportedly declined an offer from an anonymous individual to cover the rent payments and refused to sign a new lease, further limiting options for the elderly tenant.

Legal experts note that the eviction highlights the tension between property‑rights enforcement and social‑policy concerns in Spain. While the court authorized the removal, the case has prompted calls for stronger tenant protections and greater regulation of rent hikes, especially for long‑term occupants. The incident is likely to influence public discourse and policy proposals as the country confronts rising housing costs and a shortage of affordable homes.