87-year-old woman evicted in Madrid amid severe housing crisis

On September 23, 2026, an 87-year-old woman identified as Maricarmen was forcibly evicted from her residence in the Retiro district of Madrid, where she had lived since 1956. The property was purchased in 2018 by the investment firm Urbagestión Desarrollo e Inversión S.L., which subsequently demanded a massive rent increase. Sources provide conflicting details on the final amount demanded, with reports citing an increase from 500 euros to either 1,650 or 2,650 euros per month, far exceeding the woman's 1,350-euro pension.

Despite efforts to negotiate and secure extensions, the landlord rejected all proposals, leading to a legal battle that reached the Spanish Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the company. On the day of the eviction, hundreds of activists and local neighbors gathered at the property on Alcalde Sainz de Baranda street to protest, resulting in violent clashes with police and the eventual forced removal of Maricarmen, who uses a wheelchair. The incident has intensified public anger regarding Spain's escalating housing crisis and the perceived lack of legal protections for vulnerable, long-term tenants against aggressive speculative practices by real estate firms.