87-Year-Old Woman Allowed to Return Home After Eviction Sparks Outcry

Abascal was evicted from the apartment on September 23 after a dispute over rent. She had lived in the property for around 70 years, following her parents who first rented it in 1956.

The case quickly attracted national attention after Abascal was removed from the building on a stretcher. She was later taken to hospital for treatment for exhaustion.

A rent increase changed everything

The apartment was purchased by investment firm Urbagestión in 2018. According to the BBC, Abascal’s monthly rent had previously been around €500, but the company later raised it to €2,650.

The rent was subsequently reduced to €1,650, but that was still higher than Abascal’s monthly pension of €1,350.

Three earlier attempts to remove her from the property had been blocked by the courts. Her case eventually became a symbol of the difficulties faced by older tenants and other people struggling with rising housing costs in Madrid.

Thousands took to the streets

News of the eviction prompted protests across Spain. Supporters gathered outside the apartment building and later marched through Madrid, calling for greater protection for tenants facing unaffordable rent increases.

BBC coverage of the case reported that tens of thousands of people took part in demonstrations in Madrid. The story also attracted attention beyond Spain as housing affordability has become a growing concern in many major cities.

A way back home

Abascal’s lawyer, Beatriz Duro, later announced that an agreement had been reached allowing her client to return to the apartment under a new contract with a much more affordable rent.

The agreement has not yet been formally signed because Abascal has been recovering from exhaustion. Her lawyer said she would complete the process when she feels well enough.

The return home brings an unexpected turn to a story that began with an eviction and quickly became a national conversation about what it means to remain in a home for most of a lifetime.

For Abascal, the agreement could mean returning to the place that has been her home since the middle of the 20th century.

Sources: BBC News, Reuters, Associated Press.