In a sorrowful reflection of Spain’s ongoing housing crisis, María del Carmen Abascal, an 87-year-old resident of Madrid, has been evicted from her home of 71 years. The eviction took place on Wednesday, September 23, and was met with widespread public outrage, prompting a significant protest that drew around 10,000 supporters to the streets of the Retiro neighbourhood.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/maricarmen-abascal-spain-092426-250eacb4875c4515bde21f75763da3dc.jpg)
Abascal, who moved into the apartment at just 17, had lived there since 1956. Her story highlights the challenges faced by many as rent prices soar beyond the means of long-time tenants. Initially paying €500 a month, her rent skyrocketed to €2,650 under new ownership, and although it was later reduced to €1,650, Abascal’s monthly pension of €1,350 meant that even the lower amount was unmanageable.
The plight of Abascal became increasingly prominent over the course of an eight-year battle against eviction. After her father originally signed the tenancy agreement, the ownership structure changed multiple times after his death in 2005. Up until 2018, she held the tenancy under a regulated arrangement but was subsequently forced into a private rental situation under new management by the investment fund Urbagestion.
Urbagestion contested Abascal’s tenancy, arguing that the original rental agreement had lost its validity. This conflict escalated to the Supreme Court, which ruled against her in March 2026, overturning a previous court decision that favoured her rights to the property. As a result, the eviction process moved forward despite appeals and arguments suggesting she should not be thrown out of her home.
On the day of the eviction, Abascal was informed that she had only 30 minutes to gather her belongings. Witnesses reported that police used force to remove protesters from the building, highlighting the tensions surrounding the case. Upon her eventual removal from her apartment, Abascal was transported via stretcher to an ambulance, where chants of support from her allies echoed in the streets, emphasizing the community’s solidarity in the face of the housing crisis.
This eviction is indicative of a broader issue facing many in Madrid, where an average of three evictions occur daily, largely driven by the rising cost of living and insufficient protections for long-term tenants. Throughout her ordeal, Abascal became a symbol of the struggle for affordable housing in Spain, as more individuals find themselves unable to secure stable shelter amid rampant market changes.
Opposition to the eviction was not only from the public but also included calls from governmental bodies for humane treatment of vulnerable residents. The UN’s Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights had previously urged Spanish authorities to reconsider the eviction and ensure adequate housing solutions were made available.
In an official statement, the Madrid City Council claimed that they had offered Abascal alternative housing options, including placements in residential facilities, which she purportedly declined. Following her eviction, Abascal expressed her intent to stay with relatives rather than considering the offered accommodation.
The events surrounding Abascal’s eviction have reignited discussions regarding tenant rights and housing laws in Spain. While her battle has come to a distressing end, it has further illuminated the urgent need for reform in the housing sector, underscoring the importance of protecting vulnerable populations from the harsh realities of unchecked rent increases and eviction procedures.
As Spain faces an increasingly difficult housing landscape, the case of María del Carmen Abascal serves as a poignant reminder of the real-world consequences of the crisis, and the need for collective efforts to address the shortage of affordable housing. The outpouring of solidarity from the community following her eviction suggests a growing awareness and demand for change in the treatment of tenants who have long called these places home.