Horror in Spain: 87-year-old woman loses her home
Maricarmen, 87, was evicted from her Madrid apartment where she lived for 70 years after rent was raised from €500 to €2,650. Despite protests, UN intervention, and an anonymous donor's offer to cover the rent, the company Urbagestión refused to negotiate. The story illustrates the worsening housing crisis in Spain.
Maricarmen, 87, was evicted from her apartment in Madrid's Retiro district, where she had lived for 70 years since 1956. The lease was originally signed by her father. After the investment company Urbagestión purchased the property in 2018, the rent increased from €500 to €2,650 per month. The company agreed to reduce it to €1,650, but the pensioner receives only €1,350 monthly. Three previous eviction attempts were stopped in court, but the decision was ultimately enforced. Hundreds of protesters, including prominent cultural figures, tried to prevent the eviction, but police used special measures. The UN committee called for a halt to the eviction. An anonymous donor offered to pay most of the rent, but the company refused. Local authorities offered a nursing home, but the woman declined. Spain's housing minister linked the incident to uncontrolled speculation in the real estate market.