Elderly Madrid resident evicted after 70 years amid housing crisis
An 87-year-old woman was forced out of her long-term Madrid apartment, prompting protests and highlighting Spain's worsening housing affordability issues.
An 87-year-old wheelchair-bound resident of Madrid's Retiro district was removed from her apartment on Wednesday after more than seven decades in the home. Video showed her being taken out on a stretcher and transferred to an ambulance while police kept a crowd of supporters at bay.
Her lawyer, Beatriz Duro, called the eviction "completely disproportionate and unnecessary" and criticized the building's owners for refusing to halt the process despite pending court filings and humanitarian appeals. The property, bought by investment fund Urbagestión in 2018, had sought a steep rent increase, leading the tenant to fight the eviction for over five years.
The incident has intensified public anger over Spain's housing shortage, with tenants' unions organizing demonstrations in 16 cities and planning further protests in Madrid. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the eviction as a "social tragedy" and accused the regional government of prioritising luxury developments over social housing.
Housing advocates, including the International Union of Tenants, said the case reflects a broader trend of treating homes as financial assets rather than basic rights, calling for stronger market regulation.