The eviction of an 87-year-old tenant named Maricarmen from her long-held apartment in Madrid’s Retiro district has brought renewed focus to Spain’s ongoing housing shortage and affordability challenges. Maricarmen had occupied the flat continuously since her father first leased it in 1956, and she remained as the official tenant following her parents’ deaths during a period when rent controls were in place. When the investment firm Urbagestión purchased the building in 2018, it exploited a legal provision to dramatically increase her rent from €500 to €2,650 monthly. Though the company later reduced this figure to €1,650, the amount still far exceeded Maricarmen’s monthly pension of €1,350, leaving her unable to comply with the new terms.
The case gained substantial public attention after three previous eviction attempts were blocked by courts. As authorities moved to enforce the eviction, hundreds of supporters gathered outside the building, including celebrities such as Carlos Bardem and singer Ana Belén, who performed poetry in solidarity. Law enforcement established a significant police presence, removing protesters from the building entrance and striking some with batons. An anonymous donor even offered to cover most of Maricarmen’s rent payments, but Urbagestión declined the proposal, and the eviction proceeded.
The situation prompted international attention, with the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights calling for the eviction to be halted and requesting affordable alternative housing for Maricarmen. Local authorities reported offering her a place in an elderly care facility, which she declined. Government officials criticized the investment firm’s conduct, with Housing Minister Teresa Rodríguez characterizing the eviction as evidence of unchecked market speculation.
Maricarmen’s case underscores broader housing challenges across Spain, particularly in major cities like Madrid where rental prices have more than doubled over the past decade and jumped 10% in the year prior to this event. The Socialist-led government has emphasized protecting vulnerable populations from housing speculation, though critics debate whether the administration is doing enough to increase housing supply and whether restrictive policies discourage property owners from renting out their homes.
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