An evicted elderly disabled woman, who has become symbolic of Spain's housing crisis, will be able to return to her home in Madrid, according to her lawyer. Maricarmen Abascal, 87, was forcibly removed on a stretcher from her apartment of more than 70 years on 23 September. She was admitted to hospital after the eviction.
Her eviction has led to widespread anger across Spain, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has promised housing relief measures when his cabinet meets on Tuesday. Abascal's lawyer, Beatriz Duro, told a press conference there had been "goodwill from both parties" and that she would pay a similar amount of rent under a new contract, averting a significant price hike. Duro had met the investment company Urbagestión, which owns the apartment, for several hours on Monday, and the agreement they reached still has to be approved by Maricarmen Abascal, as she was unable to take part in the meeting.
She added that Abascal, who is being treated for exhaustion, would sign the deal when she felt better. Up to 1,000 protesters welcomed the agreement at Madrid's Puerta del Sol, where hundreds of tents have been set up. However, the city's Tenants' Union has called on the government to approve deeper housing reforms "so that there are no more Maricarmens".
The tent protest has been criticised by Madrid regional leader Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who has accused the government of failing to respond in time to Spain's housing shortage and of now coming up with "sectarian" and "deeply ideological" proposals. "I'm merely asking to be told at what age I can stop paying my landlords so I can stay in my place, and maybe I'll even join the next tenants' protest," she said. Spain needed a million more homes to address demographic growth encouraged by the Sánchez government itself, she added.
Maricarmen Abascal's father first rented the property in 1956 and she continued as the tenant after her parents died, during which time there was a cap on the rent. Urbagestión, which bought the property in 2018, increased the rent from €500 per month (£428; $572) to €2,650 (£2,280; $3,020). The company later offered to reduce this to €1,650 however she was still unable to pay this with her monthly pension of €1,350.
Three previous attempts to evict her were blocked by the courts. Her case triggered nationwide protests and tens of thousands of people to march through the Spanish capital on Saturday to object to the eviction and to demand stronger protection for tenants in the face of a housing shortage and soaring rents. Duro said the agreement, yet to be signed, was the "result of the social mobilisation".
Extract — continue reading at the source.
