Full Breakdown
Eviction of 87-Year-Old Maricarmen Sparks Nationwide Outcry Over Spain’s Housing Crisis
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 23, 2026, police in Madrid’s Retiro district forcibly removed Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old disabled tenant who had lived in the same apartment for 71 years. After being given only 30 minutes to vacate, she was taken on a stretcher to an ambulance while protesters shouted “Maricarmen, you’re not alone!” and “Murderers!”. The eviction proceeded despite a pending court filing and humanitarian appeals.
Background & Context
The building was bought by investment fund Urbagestión SL, which sought to raise the rent on Maricarmen’s rent-controlled lease. Under the original agreement she paid €500 per month; the new landlord demanded a rent increase to either €1,650 or €2,650. The dispute reflects a broader trend in Spanish cities where investment funds acquire long-standing rentals, trigger steep hikes, and precipitate evictions. Spain has recorded 4,000 evictions nationwide this year, highlighting political tension between the left-wing coalition government, which pushes for stronger tenant protections, and the conservative-led Madrid regional administration, which favors market-oriented policies.
Data & Statistics
- Original rent: €500/month.
- Reported new rent demands: €1,650/month or €2,650/month.
- Nationwide evictions in 2026: 4,000.
- Protesters on September 23: hundreds, including members of the Madrid Tenants’ Union and public figures.
- “The District” real-estate summit (Sept 22-24) gathered >15,000 professionals, 450 experts, and representatives from >360 firms.
- “The Neighborhood” counter-summit (Sept 24-27) will involve 70 tenant-rights organizations.
Official Statements & Responses
- Isabel Rodríguez, Minister of Housing, called the day “sad and dramatic” and blamed regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso for protecting corporate landlords.
- Pablo Bustinduy, Minister of Social Rights, described the eviction as “indecent” and urged faster anti-eviction legislation.
- Fran Martín, Government delegate in Madrid, labeled the eviction “deeply unjust and unacceptable” and affirmed the right to peaceful protest.
- Isabel Díaz Ayuso denied allegations of using a €6.3 million luxury penthouse for personal residence.
- Urbagestión SL declined comment.
Criticism & Opposition
- Aldo Reverte, spokesperson for the Confederation of Tenants’ Unions, called the case “barbaric behaviour” when housing is treated as a commodity.
- Tenant unions and cultural figures (including actor Carlos Bardem and singer-actor Ana Belén) joined protests, highlighting the human impact of speculative rent hikes.
On-the-Ground Reports
Riot police deployed teargas and baton charges to clear a path for the judicial committee. Demonstrators camped on the building’s staircase, shared food, and used neighboring bathrooms while police dismantled tents. Witnesses reported officers dragging and pushing protesters, lifting some by arms and legs. Maricarmen was removed on a hospital stretcher and placed in an ambulance after the building was cordoned off early that morning.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact proposed rent increase: €1,650 or €2,650 per month. No official figure from Urbagestión has been released, leaving the precise terms unclear. While the government has offered alternative accommodation, Maricarmen has refused, preferring to remain in her longtime home.
Timeline
- September 22, 2026 – “The District” real-estate summit begins at IFEMA Madrid.
- September 23, 2026 – Police evict Maricarmen Abascal after a fourth attempted removal.
- September 24-27, 2026 – “The Neighborhood” counter-summit convenes tenant unions and social organizations.
- September 25, 2026 – Panel on rent strikes scheduled at Fundación Abogados de Atocha.
What’s Next
The “Neighborhood” summit will provide a platform for tenant groups to coordinate responses to large-scale landlord actions. The Spanish government faces pressure to enact stronger rent-control measures and anti-vulture-fund legislation as civil-society actors continue to demand solutions to the housing crisis.