87-year-old woman evicted from Madrid apartment amid housing crisis

On September 23, 2026, an 87-year-old woman with a 50% disability, identified as Maricarmen, was forcibly evicted from her apartment in the Retiro district of Madrid. She had resided in the property since 1956, originally rented by her parents. Following the acquisition of the building by the investment firm Urbagestión Desarrollo e Inversión S.L. in 2018, the company demanded a new contract with a massive rent hike, increasing the monthly fee from 500 euros to 1,650 euros. This figure significantly exceeded her monthly pension of 1,350 euros.

Despite repeated attempts by Maricarmen to negotiate or request an extension, the landlord refused all offers, proceeding with the eviction. The event triggered significant social unrest, with hundreds of activists and neighbors gathering at Alcalde Sainz de Baranda Street to protest. Reports from news sources indicate that the situation escalated into violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement officers. The incident has intensified the public debate regarding predatory real estate practices and the lack of legal protections for vulnerable tenants in Spain's current housing market.