Spain set to ban evictions after nationwide outrage over 87-year-old removed from home
Por David Latona — – World RSS Feed
Spain set to ban evictions after nationwide outrage over 87-year-old removed from home
Demonstrators remained camped in a major Madrid square to protest against the removal on a stretcher of Maricarmen Abascal
David Latona Tuesday 29 September 2026 14:58 BST
- Bookmark
- Comments Go to comments
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks
Close popover
open image in gallery
Become an Independent member to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.
Already a member?
Log in
Your support helps us to tell the story
Read more Support Now
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Read more
Spain’s coalition government has agreed plans to ban evictions until 2030 in a bid to tackle the country’s housing crisis, as an 87-year-old woman whose forced removal sparked protests is currently considering an offer to return to her home.
Hundreds of demonstrators remained camped in a major Madrid square on Tuesday to protest against the removal on a stretcher of Maricarmen Abascal last Wednesday. They are demanding legislative reforms, including a rent freeze and the automatic renewal of leases without abusive price increases.
Health Minister Monica Garcia said on Tuesday that the governing Socialists and junior partner Sumar had reached an agreement on a suite of new measures, including contract extensions until 2028 and a ban on so-called vulture funds from the housing market. However, the minority administration faces a tough challenge securing support in a fragmented parliament.
The proposals will be split into two decrees for a parliamentary vote on Friday, with most included in the first. The “final sticking point” of automatic contract renewals sits in the second decree, Social Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy told a press conference.
open image in gallery“It is time to intervene in the speculative housing market and start striking a balance between ordinary citizens and vulture funds,” Garcia wrote on X.
Junts, the Catalan pro-independence party that would need to back the decree for it to pass, said on Tuesday it was still far from agreeing on all measures and wanted protection for small landlords, who make up the vast majority of property owners in Spain.
“We all agreed that evictions – where the property is owned by a fund, a vulture fund, run by someone managing millions of euros – obviously need to be stopped,” Junts parliamentary spokesperson Miriam Nogueras said on RTVE.
“Lumping together in this category those who have invested their savings in a flat, a restaurant or a property – putting them all in the same basket – is a mistake,” she added.
The lawyer for pensioner Abascal said on Tuesday that UrbaGestion, the fund that owns her apartment, had offered a preliminary agreement late on Monday that could allow her return to her home if she agrees to its terms. They would imply paying 30% of her pension over the next eight years, equivalent to around €500 a month.
This would see her paying a similar level as prior to the eviction.
“She should never have been forced to leave,” Beatriz Duro told reporters. “I hope this case serves to provide a collective response to the housing crisis.”
More about
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Most popular
Popular videos
Bulletin
Read next
Fonte: – World RSS Feed
