Full Breakdown
Maricarmen Abascal’s Eviction Fuels a Nationwide Housing Crisis Debate in Spain
By Drooid · · How we work
The Forced Eviction
On September 23, 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal was forcibly removed from her Retiro-district apartment after an investment fund, Urbagestión, raised her rent from €500 to €2,650 and later reduced it to €1,650—still far above her pension. Video shows her being carried on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance. The building was bought by Urbagestión in 2018; her lawyer Beatriz Duro called the police action “completely disproportionate and unnecessary.”
Background and Context
Abascal’s tenancy began in 1956 when her father first rented the unit. After the 2018 sale, the fund sought a steep increase, prompting legal battles that were repeatedly blocked until the final court order. The case appears amid a broader Spanish housing crunch: property prices have surged faster than wages since the 2008 crisis, tourism-driven short-term rentals have reduced affordable stock, and a 2023 law protecting vulnerable tenants expired in March.
Data and Statistics
- The Bank of Spain estimates a shortage of about 550,000 homes last year, projected to exceed 1 million by 2028.
- The Youth Council of Spain reports an average monthly rent of €1,176, equal to 98.7 % of the average monthly salary.
- Rental prices have risen 80 % in the past decade; home prices have climbed 227.9 % over ten years (Idealista).
- Investment funds and holding companies own roughly 8 % of Spain’s property market.
- Annual evictions total about 25,000 (tenants’ union) to 25,500 (government).
Official Statements & Responses
At the United Nations General Assembly, Sánchez blamed the Madrid regional government for prioritising luxury penthouses over social housing.
Regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso defended the police action, saying the eviction complied with existing law and was carried out by national police “managed by the government.”
Beatriz Duro, representing Abascal, condemned the fund’s refusal to negotiate even after an anonymous offer to cover rent.
Urbagestión declined to comment.
Criticism & Opposition
Unai Sordo, senior official of the Workers’ Commissions (CCOO), called for a tax regime that would “kick out” investment funds from the housing market.
Tenant advocates are pressing for automatic renewal of rental contracts, rent-freeze measures, and compensation for landlords who evict without justification.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I do think prices should be regulated, because wages aren’t going up while housing prices keep increasing.” — Dan Nicander, International Union of Tenants
- “Homes are for living in, not for large corporations to do business,” — Unai Sordo
Timeline
- 1956 – Father rents the Retiro apartment.
- 2018 – Urbagestión purchases the building.
- March 2020 – Fund files lawsuit to terminate the lease.
- September 23 – Police evict Abascal; she is taken to Gregorio Marañón Hospital.
- September 26 – Tens of thousands march in Madrid, demanding tenant protections.
- September 27 – Protesters set up tents in Puerta del Sol and remain overnight.
What’s Next
The Sánchez cabinet is scheduled to meet on the Tuesday following the protests to consider a Royal Decree-Law that would freeze rents, introduce automatic contract renewals, and potentially expropriate homes like Abascal’s. Opposition parties, including the centrist Sumar coalition and the Catalan nationalist Junts, have signaled divergent positions on the scope of any new measures.
The eviction of Maricarmen Abascal has become a rallying point for Spain’s housing debate, illustrating how a single case can crystallise nationwide demands for systemic reform.