Brief
Spain’s Housing Crisis Deepens as 87‑Year‑Old Pensioner Returns Home After Eviction Deal
A deal between the pensioner’s lawyer and the property owners lets her return to her Madrid flat after a nationwide outcry over evictions and rising rents.
By Felo News Desk · Published
An 87‑year‑old Madrid pensioner, Maricarmen Abascal, who was evicted after a 275 % rent increase, has been allowed to return to her apartment following a deal with the owners, her lawyer said on Monday. The agreement comes after a week of protests that saw tens of thousands march and set up a tent camp in Puerta del Sol, Madrid, and sparked pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to address Spain’s housing crisis.
Eviction sparks nationwide protest
Abascal, who has lived in the Retiro neighbourhood for 70 years, was removed on a stretcher from her home on 24 September. The real‑estate firm Urbagestión raised her rent from 1,900 to 2,650 euros, a 275 % hike, prompting her eviction. The case became a symbol of the broader crisis, with demonstrators demanding stronger tenant protections and an end to evictions without alternative housing.
Deal reached with landlords
Abascal’s lawyer, Beatriz Duro, said the agreement would see the rent return to a level similar to what she had been paying. Duro called the deal “a result of the social mobilisation” and hoped it would change the housing paradigm in Spain. Abascal will be able to return to her apartment after leaving the hospital where she is being treated for exhaustion.
Government response
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government is preparing a new housing package to present to cabinet on Tuesday, aiming to placate public anger. The package is expected to include measures to protect tenants and address the 700,000‑unit housing shortage that has been cited by the Bank of Spain.
Wider context
Spain has seen rents double in a decade, and the eviction of Abascal has highlighted the tension between property investors and long‑term tenants. The case has drawn attention to the lack of tenant protections and the need for policy reforms to curb short‑term rentals and provide affordable housing for retirees.
Key facts
- Maricarmen Abascal was evicted after a 275 % rent increase to 2,650 euros (gulfnews.com)
- The eviction sparked protests that set up a tent camp in Puerta del Sol, Madrid (gulfnews.com)
- A deal was reached allowing Abascal to return to her apartment with rent similar to previous levels (gulfnews.com)
- Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is preparing a new housing package to present to cabinet on Tuesday (gulfnews.com)
Background
The eviction of Abascal followed a broader housing crisis in Spain, with a 700,000‑unit shortage and rents doubling over a decade. The case has become a rallying point for protests demanding stronger tenant protections and reforms to curb short‑term rentals.
Timeline
- 2026-09-24 — Abascal evicted after rent hike
- 2026-09-25 — Nationwide protests begin
- 2026-09-27 — Tent camp established in Puerta del Sol
Why it matters
The case highlights the lack of tenant protections and the urgency for housing policy reform in Spain.
What happens next
The government will present a new housing package to cabinet on Tuesday, and the deal may influence future tenant protection legislation.
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “Deal for evicted Spanish pensioner as PM seeks new housing law”
