Full Breakdown
Maricarmen Abascal’s Eviction Ignites Nationwide Housing Protests in Spain
By Drooid · · How we work
The Eviction and Immediate Outcry
On a recent Saturday, police in Madrid forced 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, a wheelchair-user, onto a stretcher and removed her from the apartment she had occupied for more than seven decades. The dramatic removal was captured on video and quickly spread across social media, prompting tens of thousands of people to gather in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol and in other cities such as Valencia, Barcelona, Seville and Palma de Mallorca. Demonstrators set up tent encampments, clashed with police using batons and tear-gas, and carried signs reading “Not even one more Maricarmen!” and “Your profits, our misery.” Activists say they will remain until the government adopts stronger tenant protections.
Background to Spain’s Rental Crisis
Spain’s housing market has been under pressure for years. The post-Franco legal framework left many long-term tenants with “protected” leases that expired after the original holder’s death, creating uncertainty for heirs like Abascal. Over the past decade, the average rent per square metre has nearly doubled, reaching €15.10 in August, while publicly owned rental units remain below 2 % of the total stock—far lower than the EU average of about 6-7 %.
Key Data on Tenancy and Prices
- 26 % of renters spend an average of 40 % of their income on rent and utilities, compared with an EU average of 18 %.
- Public housing accounts for less than 2 % of Spain’s rental market, versus an OECD average of 8 %.
- Idealista data show rent per square metre rose from €8.20 in 2016 to €15.10 in 2024.
- The Bank of Spain estimates a shortfall of roughly 700 000 homes for the nation’s 50 million residents.
Official Government Response
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s administration introduced emergency measures intended to curb evictions, limit speculative rent hikes and grant renters indefinite leases. The proposals also sought to extend eviction protections for vulnerable tenants and to lengthen standard rental contracts. Sánchez emphasized the human dimension, stating:
> “This is not a question of ideology; it is a question of humanity.” — Mr Sánchez
The measures were rejected by conservative parties in parliament, leaving the reforms pending approval.
Opposition and Criticism
Conservative opposition parties voted against the emergency package, arguing that the measures would interfere with market dynamics and property rights. Urbagestión, the investment firm that acquired Abascal’s lease in 2018, defended its actions, claiming that protesters “overwhelmed” the company and that it eventually offered an eight-year contract on September 28 with a rent capped at roughly 30 % of Abascal’s income.
The tenants’ union, represented by spokesperson Valeria Racu, has criticized the government’s failure to pass the reforms, stating that “mass protests will go ahead” until legislation is enacted.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Online claims have labeled the eviction “illegal.” Fact-checkers clarified that the eviction was carried out under a valid court order after a decades-long dispute over a protected tenancy dating back to the 1950s. The Spanish Supreme Court upheld the owner’s right to terminate the lease, making the eviction lawful, though many protesters argue the outcome is unfair.
What’s Next
Parliament must still vote on the proposed housing measures, and a general election is expected within the next year. Protesters have pledged to maintain encampments and demonstrations until the legislation passes. The pending vote will determine whether Spain adopts broader eviction bans for vulnerable tenants, tighter rent-increase limits, and increased public intervention in the rental market.