Elderly Spanish tenant set to return home as government unveils new housing reforms
After a high-profile eviction dispute, 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal will be allowed back into her Madrid apartment under a rent-cap deal, while Spain's cabinet announces a package of measures aimed at strengthening tenant protections.
Madrid – María del Carmen Abascal, an 87-year-old resident who became the focus of nationwide protests over an eviction, is expected to move back into her apartment in the Retiro district once she is discharged from hospital, her lawyer said Tuesday. The agreement limits her rent to 30% of her income, roughly 500 euros a month, the same amount she paid before the dispute.
The case prompted tens of thousands of demonstrators to gather in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol and other cities, pressuring the coalition government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to act. On Tuesday the cabinet announced a decree that extends eviction protection for vulnerable tenants until 2030, regulates short-term rentals, imposes a new tax on seasonal rentals and bans speculative purchases by so-called “vulture funds” until 2028. Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez said the package also includes tax incentives for landlords who rent to low-income households, interest-free loans for first-time homebuyers, and measures to protect and expand public housing.
Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz thanked the protest movement on social media, citing “Maricarmen” and the thousands of people on the streets as catalysts for the new policy. Parliament has 30 days to approve the decree, and the government plans an extraordinary housing session on Friday to accelerate the vote.
The Madrid Tenants' Union, which organized the encampment, said it will review the decree’s details before deciding whether to dismantle the protest sites. Activists have called for additional demonstrations in other cities and warned they will maintain pressure until broader reforms are secured. The regional government of Madrid has asked authorities to clear the plaza within 48 hours, a request that could be taken to court.
Abascal’s tenancy dates back to the 1950s when her family first rented the unit. After the building changed ownership in 2018, the new owner raised the rent dramatically, prompting the legal battle. The landlord, an investment fund, has not responded to requests for comment.