Madrid’s housing crisis spilled onto the streets once again on Saturday (local time), as tens of thousands of people demanded greater protection for tenants.
Marching through the capital city, protesters called for measures against fraud, stronger safeguards for renters and a ban on evictions when no alternative housing is available.
The demands were once again brought to light by the recent eviction of 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal, who was forced out of her Madrid apartment on Wednesday after living there for decades.
“We’re here because housing is a problem that already affects all of society, all ages and classes,” said protester Dora Garcia, a 55-year-old nurse. “And we can’t keep maintaining this. Housing is a right and we don’t have it.”
From 500 to 1,650 euros: When rent became unaffordable
Abascal’s housing battle stretches back several years. Spanish media reported that her father first rented the apartment in 1956, and she remained there after her parents died. At the time, the property was covered by a rent cap. That changed after the building changed ownership in 2018.
According to the Madrid Tenants’ Union, Abascal was offered the chance to buy the apartment but could not afford it. Urbagestión, an investment fund that later acquired the unit, increased her monthly rent from 500 euros ($570) to 2,650 euros. The rent was subsequently reduced to 1,650 euros, but the amount was still beyond what Abascal could pay from her pension, the union said.
Three earlier attempts to evict her were blocked by courts. Her eventual eviction on Wednesday drew extensive media attention and turned the 87-year-old into a symbol of the country's wider housing crisis.
‘The last straw’
For protesters, Abascal’s case reflected a much broader problem involving the cost and availability of housing.
“This whole housing situation is heartbreaking. Maricarmen has been, in a way, the last straw that sparked this social unrest, but we’ve been dealing with this whole issue for a long time now,” said protester Simón de la Riva, 43, a teacher.
“It’s unacceptable that vulture funds are buying up homes, that people can’t afford to live, that entire families are being evicted, and that an elderly woman has been evicted.”
The march later reached Madrid’s Puerta del Sol plaza, where protesters sat down and appeared intent on staying. Some pitched tents, planning to spend at least the night there or remain until police removed them.
Spain’s housing shortage adds to pressure
The protest comes against a backdrop of rising housing costs and a shortage of homes that is pricing many Spaniards out of the market. Spain has recorded strong economic growth, but incomes have not kept pace with housing costs.
Analysts have also pointed to tourism and population growth driven by immigration in cities as factors putting additional pressure on the country’s limited housing supply. The Bank of Spain estimated that Spain was short of about 550,000 homes last year. Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia accounted for a substantial share of the shortage.
Public rental housing is also limited. Spain ranks near the bottom among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, with public rental housing making up less than 2% of its available supply. The European Union average is 8%.
Spain had previously used public funds to build homes that were subsequently sold into private ownership, removing those properties from the public housing stock.
