Elderly Madrid resident evicted after protest, underscoring housing shortage

Police in Madrid forced the eviction of an 87-year-old woman who had lived in the same Retiro neighbourhood apartment for more than seven decades. She was given only half an hour to vacate, allowed to take essential belongings, and was taken away on a stretcher by social-services officials. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside, chanting slogans and confronting officers as they cleared the entrance.

The property had been bought by an investment fund that sought to raise the rent sharply. The tenant’s lawyer said court officials and the fund’s representatives refused to halt the eviction despite a pending court filing, humanitarian pleas and evidence that authorities were seeking alternative housing. An anonymous offer to cover the rent was declined by the landlord, who also refused to sign a new lease.

"I've lived here for 71 years and I don't want to leave," the tenant told reporters the day before the eviction.

The incident has drawn attention to mounting pressure on long-term renters in Spain’s major cities, where rising rents and limited affordable housing have intensified social tensions. The left-wing coalition government has advocated stronger tenant protections and broader rent controls, while the conservative-led regional administration in Madrid favors a market-oriented approach.

Activists also referenced a separate controversy involving the regional leader’s alleged purchase of a luxury penthouse, linking it to the eviction in their chants.