Maricarmen Abascal dies after eviction sparked protests across Spain
Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old disabled pensioner, has died following her eviction from a Madrid flat where she lived for over 70 years. Her forced removal in September, carried out on a stretcher, sparked nationwide protests and became a focal point of Spain's housing crisis. Although parliament had rejected proposed tenant protection reforms, a compromise deal had been reached allowing her to return to her home at an affordable rent.
Abascal's rent was set to increase 275 per cent, from €440 to €1,650 monthly, far exceeding her €1,350 pension. The investment company that owned the property had not negotiated directly with her during the eight years since purchasing the flat in 2018. Tens of thousands marched through Spanish cities protesting her eviction and demanding stronger housing protections as the country faces a shortage of roughly 700,000 homes.
- 87-year-old evicted after 70 years dies before affordable rent deal takes effect.
- Eviction sparked nationwide protests against Spain's housing crisis.
- Parliament rejected tenant protection reforms amid severe housing shortage.
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Maricarmen Abascal was an 87-year-old disabled pensioner who had lived in a Madrid flat for over 70 years before being forced to leave in September. Her eviction by an investment company drew widespread attention because it illustrated the difficulties elderly and vulnerable Spaniards face when their housing costs become unaffordable. The case highlighted tensions between property owners seeking market returns and residents unable to pay rising rents.
The investment company purchased the building in 2018 and sought to raise Abascal's rent from €440 to €1,650 a month, an increase of 275 per cent. Abascal received a pension of €1,350 monthly and could not afford the new charge, which the company and tenant had never discussed directly during the years of ownership. This gap between the new rent and her income made remaining in her home impossible.
Her eviction prompted tens of thousands of Spaniards to march in cities across the country, demanding stronger protections for long-term tenants and drawing attention to housing affordability. Spain faces a shortage of roughly 700,000 homes and many ordinary people struggle to find accommodation they can afford. Abascal's case became a focal point in the national debate about housing access and the rights of vulnerable residents.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Disabled elderly woman, 87, whose eviction has sparked weeks of riots in Spain has died”.