A recent eviction in Madrid has sparked widespread outrage and protests in Spain, drawing attention to the country's housing crisis. Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman, was evicted from her home in the Retiro district on September 23, after living there for around 70 years. The eviction was the fourth attempt, and hundreds of people gathered outside her building to try to stop it. She was eventually evicted by police on a stretcher.
The eviction has highlighted the struggles faced by tenants in Madrid, where investors and real-estate companies are increasingly buying up properties, driving up rents and pushing long-time residents out of their neighborhoods. Maricarmen had been paying around €500 per month in rent, but after the property was purchased by investment fund Urbagestion, she was offered a new rent of roughly €2,000 per month, which was unsustainable for her.
The case has drawn international attention, with the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights requesting interim measures to suspend the eviction or ensure an adequate housing alternative. The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing also argued that the eviction should have been suspended to prevent irreparable harm. The Spanish government has faced criticism for its handling of the case, with many arguing that it has failed to protect vulnerable tenants.
The eviction is part of a larger trend in Madrid, where tenants are facing increasing pressure from investors and real-estate companies. The city's housing market is characterized by rapidly increasing rents, temporary contracts, and the proliferation of tourist apartments and co-living developments. This has led to concerns about the impact on long-time residents, who are being priced out of their neighborhoods.
The contrast between the interests of investors and tenants was highlighted by two recent events in Madrid. The District, a conference for executives, investors, and real-estate companies, took place at the IFEMA convention center, while a summit of housing movements, El Barrio, was held in opposition to the logic of treating housing as a commodity. The two events represented fundamentally different visions for the city's future.
The failure to secure an adequate solution for Maricarmen has been attributed to a lack of action by public institutions, including the Madrid regional government and city council. The president of the Madrid regional government recently spent €6.3 million in public money purchasing a luxury penthouse, which has become a subject of controversy. The Spanish government has also faced criticism for its handling of the housing crisis, with many arguing that it has failed to take adequate measures to protect vulnerable tenants.
The case of Maricarmen has sparked a wider movement, with tenant unions and housing organizations from around the world coming together to exchange strategies and coordinate action. El Barrio, the summit of housing movements, brought together organizations from Europe, the United States, Latin America, and elsewhere to discuss how to confront the power of investors and protect the rights of tenants. The objective is to build a movement capable of challenging the current housing system and advocating for the rights of those facing eviction.
Key points
- The eviction of Maricarmen highlights the need for greater protection for vulnerable tenants in Spain.
- The case has sparked a wider movement, with tenant unions and housing organizations from around the world coming together to coordinate action.
- The Spanish government has faced criticism for its handling of the housing crisis, with many arguing that it has failed to take adequate measures to protect vulnerable tenants.
