Public outcry in Spain following the forced eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid

On September 23, 2026, 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal was forcibly evicted from her apartment in the Retiro district of Madrid, where she had resided since 1956. The property, purchased by the investment firm Urbagestión Desarrollo e Inversión S.L. in 2018, saw its monthly rent demand surge from 500 euros to as much as 2,650 euros, far exceeding the woman's 1,350-euro pension. Despite legal appeals and negotiation attempts, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the company, resulting in a police-led operation to clear the premises.

The incident triggered widespread unrest, with activists and neighbors attempting to block the eviction. Images of the disabled woman being removed on a stretcher after police breached her door sparked national outrage and mass protests in Madrid. Demonstrators demanded stronger protections for tenants against rising housing costs and predatory investment practices.

Currently, the case has become a symbol of Spain's deepening housing crisis ahead of the 2027 parliamentary elections. While Abascal remains hospitalized for exhaustion, the Renters' Union has intensified pressure on the Sánchez government to implement legislative reforms, such as automatic lease renewals and stricter regulations on rental price hikes.