Evicted Madrid Pensioner Maricarmen Abascal Dies at 87 After Rent Dispute Sparks Spain Protests

Maricarmen Abascal, the 87-year-old pensioner whose forced eviction from her Madrid home became a focal point in Spain’s housing debate, has died, according to the Madrid Tenants’ Union.

Abascal was removed from the flat where she had lived for more than seven decades after becoming embroiled in a dispute over a proposed rent increase.

She was taken to hospital following the court-ordered eviction on September 23.

The tenants’ union announced her death on Wednesday, describing her case as a defining moment in the country’s housing struggle.

Pensioner Was Carried From Flat on a Stretcher

The eviction attracted widespread attention after images showed the frail pensioner being carried from the property on a stretcher.

Riot police forced their way into the apartment after supporters attempted to block access with chairs, shelves and a lamp.

Outside, activists who had gathered to prevent the eviction clashed with officers as the court order was enforced.

Health workers eventually removed Abascal from the building while protesters chanted, “Maricarmen, you are not alone.”

She was taken to Gregorio Marañón Hospital after leaving the property.

The Madrid Tenants’ Union said she later stayed with a relative after declining emergency accommodation offered by the city.

Dispute Centred on a 275 Per Cent Rent Increase

Abascal’s father originally rented the apartment in Madrid’s affluent Retiro district in 1956.

After her parents died, she continued living there under an old tenancy agreement that provided rent protections.

The property was purchased in 2018 by Urbagestión Desarrollo e Inversión SL, a company owned by brothers Ricardo Alonso Fernández and Fernando Alonso Fuentes.

Abascal had reportedly been paying about €440 (£379) a month.

The company later sought to increase the rent to €1,650 (£1,420), while her monthly pension was around €1,350.

The proposed increase represented a rise of approximately 275 per cent.

Three earlier attempts to remove her from the property had been blocked by the courts.

The legal dispute eventually reached Spain’s Supreme Court, which ruled in favour of the company and cleared the way for the eviction, according to the tenants’ union.

Supporters Mounted Campaign to Keep Her in the Flat

Supporters gathered outside the building before the eviction, with some camping there in an attempt to prevent the court order from being carried out.

Celebrities including Carlos Bardem, brother of actor Javier Bardem, and singer Ana Belén joined the campaign. Belén read Rafael Alberti’s poem Desahucio — meaning “Eviction” — to those gathered outside the property.

British pianist James Rhodes also said he had contacted Urbagestión and offered either to cover Abascal’s rent or purchase the apartment so she could remain there.

According to Rhodes, the company rejected both proposals.

Abascal’s lawyer, Beatriz Duro, later said the two sides had reached an agreement in principle for a new tenancy at a similar rent.

She described the agreement as the product of public mobilisation.

Duro said Abascal, who was being treated for exhaustion, would sign the new contract when she was well enough.

Protests Spread Across Spain

The eviction prompted demonstrations in Madrid and other parts of Spain, with tens of thousands of people taking part in protests calling for stronger protections for renters.

The demonstrations intensified after parliament rejected proposed housing reforms that supporters said could have provided a route for Abascal to return to her home.

The Madrid Tenants’ Union said a “historic agreement” that could have allowed Abascal to return had ultimately come too late, describing the circumstances surrounding her case as avoidable.

The organisation said her case had become a reference point in the country’s housing debate.

Amnesty International Condemned the Eviction

Amnesty International Spain criticised the circumstances surrounding Abascal’s removal, describing it as a human rights violation and arguing that the case reflected difficulties faced by other households struggling with housing costs.

The organisation said the issue extended beyond Abascal’s individual circumstances and pointed to wider concerns about housing insecurity in Spain.

Abascal herself had strongly criticised the property company in an interview recorded for Spanish public broadcaster RTVE shortly before her eviction.

She accused the company of acting without regard for her circumstances and said authorities had failed to protect her during the prolonged dispute.

Housing Shortage Adds to Pressure on Renters

Spain has faced persistent concerns over housing supply, with rents and property prices rising as demand continues to exceed available homes in many areas.

The Bank of Spain has estimated that the country has a housing shortage of about 700,000 homes.

Short-term tourist accommodation has also become a contentious issue, with residents in popular destinations such as Barcelona arguing that platforms such as Airbnb reduce the supply of homes available to local residents and contribute to higher prices.

Housing has consequently remained a major political issue, with the national government facing pressure to address affordability and tenant protections.

Government and Madrid Region Clash Over Housing Policy

Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez, a member of the Socialist government, argued that the national administration had repeatedly attempted to introduce legislation restricting evictions.

She also criticised the conservative-led Madrid regional government, accusing it of being too accommodating towards property investors.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had also pledged housing measures as his government sought to respond to growing public concern over the cost and availability of accommodation.

Abascal’s case became part of that wider political dispute, with her eviction drawing attention to the competing positions of national and regional authorities over housing policy.