**Evicted Spanish Pensioner Can Move Back Home, Lawyer Says**
In a significant development amid Spain's ongoing housing crisis, 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who was forcibly evicted from her Madrid apartment, is set to return to her home. This announcement comes from her lawyer, Beatriz Duro, who indicated that an agreement has been reached that will allow Abascal to pay a similar rent to what she previously paid, avoiding a drastic increase.
Abascal's eviction on September 23, 2023, was marked by dramatic scenes as she was removed from her residence on a stretcher. The apartment, which she had lived in for over 70 years, was originally rented by her father in 1956. Following her parents' passing, Abascal continued to occupy the property under a rent control agreement that kept her monthly payments at €500.
However, the situation changed when investment firm Urbagestión purchased the property in 2018. The company attempted to raise her rent significantly, first proposing an increase to €2,650 per month, which was far beyond her means given her pension of €1,350. Although the firm later offered to reduce the rent to €1,650, Abascal still could not afford it. Her case saw three previous eviction attempts blocked by the courts, highlighting the legal complexities surrounding tenant rights in Spain.
The eviction sparked widespread protests across the country, with tens of thousands of demonstrators marching in Madrid to express their outrage and demand stronger tenant protections amidst a growing housing shortage. The Bank of Spain has estimated that the country is short of approximately 700,000 homes, exacerbating the crisis as demand continues to outstrip supply.
In response to the public outcry, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has pledged to introduce housing relief measures during a cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday. Duro emphasized that the agreement allowing Abascal to return home is a result of social mobilization and public support. She noted that Abascal, currently recovering from exhaustion, would sign the new rental contract once she feels better.
Supporters of Abascal's cause have hailed this development as a victory, but they remain committed to advocating for broader reforms to prevent similar evictions in the future and to push for more affordable housing options across Spain. The Socialist Party, which leads the government but lacks a parliamentary majority, is working on legislation aimed at addressing the housing crisis and appeasing public concern.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the housing crisis highlighted by Abascal's case and the ongoing protests. The outcome of these developments could have significant implications for housing policy and tenant rights in Spain moving forward.