On September 29, 2026, the Spanish government unveiled a series of housing measures in response to recent protests stemming from a housing crisis. The eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal has garnered widespread attention.
According to a report by the BBC, Spanish Minister of Health Mónica García stated that the government convened on September 29 to discuss proposals, including the possible extension of the eviction ban until 2030.
Other measures include extending lease contracts until 2028, strengthening regulation on short-term leases and subletting, and prohibiting investment companies from purchasing residential properties. The government estimates that these measures could benefit over 5 million people.
These housing measures still require approval from parliament. As the ruling coalition does not have a majority, the government also needs to secure support from other political parties.
“I have lived here for 71 years, and I don’t want to leave,” Abascal told reporters on September 22. She has been residing in this apartment in the Retiro district of Madrid since 1956, approximately 71 years.
According to a report by Spanish newspaper El País, the investment company Urbagestión acquired the apartment building and raised Abascal’s rent. Her monthly payment initially increased from 500 euros to 2,650 euros, then later reduced to 1,650 euros. However, for Abascal, who receives a monthly pension of 1,350 euros, it remains difficult to afford. This led to a dispute over the lease.
The dispute originated from a rent-controlled lease signed by Abascal’s father in 1956. The lease was later handed down to her mother and eventually to Maricarmen after her mother’s passing. Over the years, she had been diligently paying her rent each month, but the current property owner sought to terminate the lease.
The Spanish Supreme Court had previously ruled in favor of terminating the lease, with the decision finalized in December 2023, leading to the eviction proceedings continuing. On September 23, 2026, the court executed the eviction for the fourth time. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the residence that day to attempt to prevent the eviction, but the police intervened to clear the area. Abascal was eventually carried out on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.
The incident sparked protests in Madrid and other cities. On the evening of September 23, tenant organizations organized emergency demonstrations in 12 Spanish cities. Camp protests also appeared at the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid, demanding enhanced tenant protection and addressing eviction and housing affordability issues.
Abascal’s lawyer stated that she has reached an agreement with the property-holding company and is expected to return to her original dwelling. The new lease agreement will require her to pay approximately 30% of her income as rent, with an 8-year term. However, she is currently still in the hospital, and the agreement is pending her signature.
The eviction of Abascal is not an isolated case. According to the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), there were 4,005 eviction cases in the first quarter of 2026, averaging 44.5 cases per day. This figure represents a 45% decrease compared to the same period last year and is the lowest in over a decade.
However, a spokesperson for the Tenants’ Union, Fernando de los Santos, told RTVE that these 4,005 cases only include evictions with court decisions, and tenants who vacated upon receiving formal notices are not accounted for.
RTVE reported that around 65% of judicial evictions are related to rent arrears, reflecting the ongoing housing pressure from rising rents. While housing laws allow for setting rent caps, it is currently only implemented in Catalonia, with partial implementation in the Basque Country, Navarre, and Galicia. The Madrid Autonomous Community, where housing prices per square meter are the highest nationwide, has yet to implement such regulations.