Seventy years in one home

Maricarmen Abascal lived in her Madrid apartment for more than seventy years, taking over the lease her father signed in nineteen fifty-six with capped rent of five hundred euros monthly.

Rent soars after investment firm buys building

In two thousand eighteen, an investment firm bought the building. The monthly rent jumped from five hundred euros to one thousand six hundred fifty euros. Maricarmen, a pensioner with disability benefits of one thousand three hundred fifty euros monthly, could not afford it.

Court orders eviction after years of fighting

Real estate investment company Urbagestión first tried to raise rent to two thousand six hundred fifty euros, a three hundred percent increase. After a drawn-out court feud with three previous eviction attempts blocked, courts ruled in Urbagestión's favour in late September.

Eighty-seven-year-old wheeled out by paramedics

On September twenty-third, police beat down Maricarmen's door. Reporters were cordoned off and demonstrators dragged away. The eighty-seven-year-old, who uses a wheelchair, was stretchered out by paramedics in an image that sparked a national movement.

Spain's housing crisis by the numbers

Over the past decade, average rental price per square metre in Spain almost doubled to fifteen point ten euros in August. Spain is short of seven hundred thousand homes. Social housing makes up less than two percent of housing stock, versus six to seven percent in the European Union.

Protesters camp at Madrid's busiest landmark

Protesters built a tent encampment in Puerta del Sol, one of Madrid's busiest landmarks, led largely by Madrid's Tenant Union. A forty-three-year-old teacher, Simón de la Riva, said Maricarmen had been the last straw that sparked social unrest over a long-standing housing issue.

“Maricarmen has been, in a way, the last straw that sparked this social unrest, but we've been dealing with this whole issue for a long time now.”

Tenant union issues ultimatum to government

Madrid's Tenant Union spokesperson Valeria Racu set out clear aims: either the investment rental falls or the government falls. Spain is expected to head to an election in less than twelve months.

“Either the investment rental falls or the government falls: "Let it be very clear."”

Prime Minister promises new housing regulations

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told the public he is working against the clock to bring new housing regulations into law. The new decrees would be for Maricarmen and for millions of Spaniards suffering from the housing crisis.

“This is not a question of ideology; it is a question of humanity.”

Investment firm reverses course after five days

After five days of protest and more than four hours of meetings, Urbagestión offered Maricarmen a new eight-year rental contract on September twenty-eighth. The capped rent would not exceed thirty percent of her net income, similar to what she paid before the company took over in two thousand eighteen.

Government proposes housing measures

Prime Minister Sánchez announced plans to stop vulture funds from buying in bulk then reselling properties at higher prices, an eviction ban on vulnerable tenants until two thousand thirty, and a new tax on seasonal rentals.

Congress rejects measures, protests spread

Spain's Congress rejected the housing measures on Friday, heightening speculation that Sánchez may call an early general election. Tent encampments are popping up across Spain in Barcelona, Seville and Palma de Mallorca. Demonstrators say they will continue protesting until housing measures are voted through.

Movement continues with Maricarmen's call to action

From her hospital bed, Maricarmen championed those who supported her, saying she fought so others can learn to fight for what is theirs. The tenants' union said this could be a week when history is made, with mass protests continuing across Spain.

“I have fought so that others can learn to fight for what's theirs.”