An 87-year-old disabled woman forced from her Madrid home can return under a new rental agreement after nationwide protests over Spain’s housing crisis.
An 87-year-old disabled woman who became a symbol of Spain’s housing crisis will be able to return to her Madrid home after an agreement between her lawyer and the company that owns the property.
Maricarmen Abascal was forced out of her apartment on a stretcher on September 23. She had lived in the property for more than 70 years. Authorities took her to hospital after the eviction.
The case sparked anger across Spain. It also led to protests over rising rents and the shortage of affordable homes.
Abascal’s lawyer, Beatriz Duro, said both sides had reached an agreement after several hours of talks on Monday. Under the proposed deal, Abascal would sign a new rental contract and pay a rent close to the amount she had previously paid.
The agreement still needs Abascal’s approval. She could not attend the meeting because she remains in hospital while receiving treatment for exhaustion.
Duro said Abascal would sign the agreement when her health improves.
The property belongs to investment company Urbagestión. The company bought the apartment in 2018 and later raised Abascal’s monthly rent from about €500 to €2,650.
Urbagestión later offered to lower the rent to €1,650. However, Abascal could not afford that amount because her monthly pension is about €1,350.
Spain Housing Crisis Fuels Protests in Madrid
The Spain housing crisis has become a major political and social issue as rents rise and many residents struggle to find affordable homes.
Abascal’s case drew particular attention because of her age, disability and long history in the Madrid apartment.
Her father first rented the property in 1956. Abascal later continued living there after her parents died. For much of that period, rent controls limited how much the landlord could charge.
Three earlier attempts to remove her from the apartment were blocked by courts.
After the latest eviction, thousands of people joined demonstrations in Madrid. Protesters demanded stronger protection for tenants and action to tackle high rents.
Around 1,000 protesters later welcomed news of the agreement at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol. Hundreds of tents have been placed in the area as part of the housing protest.
Spain’s Tenants’ Union welcomed the development but said the government should introduce wider reforms. The group called for measures that would prevent other elderly and vulnerable tenants from facing similar situations.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has also promised new housing measures. His cabinet is expected to discuss the issue as pressure grows over housing costs.
The government faces demands to increase the supply of affordable homes and provide greater protection for renters.
The Madrid regional government has taken a different position on the issue. Regional leader Isabel Díaz Ayuso criticised the government’s response and accused it of failing to address the housing shortage.
Ayuso said Spain needs more homes to meet population growth. She also criticised proposals from the national government as politically driven.
The Spain housing crisis reflects a wider problem affecting renters across the country.
Housing costs have increased in many areas while incomes have not always kept pace with rent increases. Madrid has faced particular pressure because of strong demand for housing and limited affordable options.
Abascal’s situation shows how rent increases can affect people living on fixed incomes. Her pension of €1,350 a month could not cover the reduced rent of €1,650 offered by Urbagestión.
The case also raised questions about long-term tenants and the protection available to people who have lived in the same property for decades.
Nationwide attention grew after Abascal’s eviction. Tens of thousands of people marched through Madrid on Saturday. Demonstrators called for stronger tenant protections and government action to address the shortage of affordable housing.
The new agreement could allow Abascal to return to the apartment where she spent most of her life. However, her lawyer said she must first approve and sign the new contract.
The case has also kept the wider housing debate in the spotlight. Tenant groups want the government to introduce broader measures rather than focus only on individual cases.
For now, Abascal’s possible return offers a temporary resolution to a case that has come to represent the struggles faced by some Spanish renters.
The debate over housing costs, rent increases and the supply of affordable homes is expected to continue as the government considers new measures to address Spain’s housing pressures.
