María del Carmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose forced eviction last week became a focal point for housing protests in Spain, reached an agreement on Tuesday to return to her Madrid apartment. The settlement, which follows a four-day protest encampment in the city’s central square, has coincided with a major shift in national housing policy.
Abascal, known to supporters as “Maricarmen,” was removed from the home she had lived in for 70 years on September 23. The eviction triggered immediate demonstrations in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol. On Tuesday, September 29, negotiators finalized a deal that caps Abascal’s rent at 30% of her monthly income. This restores her payment to approximately €500 per month, a stark contrast to the €1,650 rent demand that led to her eviction—a figure that exceeded her total monthly pension of €1,450.
The settlement is being treated by housing activists as a proof-of-concept for broader legislative changes. As Abascal prepares to return to her home, the Spanish government is moving to formalize temporary protections into long-term law.
National “Social Shield” Decree
On Wednesday, September 30, the Spanish government officially published a housing decree in the State Gazette intended to serve as a “social shield” against the country’s ongoing housing crisis. The measure includes a ban on evicting vulnerable households until 2030 and introduces strict restrictions on property purchases by investment funds, preventing them from buying real estate at less than 70% of market value through 2028.
The decree is a direct response to the rising tension between long-term residents and institutional landlords. In Abascal’s case, the legal dispute began in 2018 when her building was purchased by an investment firm. Her legal right to a 1956 rent-controlled lease was stripped in 2022 after a court ruled her 50% disability rating did not meet the 65% threshold required by a 1994 law to inherit a lifelong lease.
Parliamentary Vote and Ongoing Protests
While the agreement allows Abascal to return home, the broader legislative package faces political hurdles. The Spanish parliament is scheduled to vote on the ratification of these housing decrees on Friday, October 2. The coalition government under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez currently lacks a firm majority, making the outcome of the vote uncertain.
Despite the individual resolution for Abascal, protest encampments in Madrid remain active. Activist groups have indicated they will maintain their presence in public squares until the Friday vote is concluded and the protections are guaranteed. The current decree specifically targets “vulture funds” and institutional owners, a key demand of the protesters who argue that speculative buying has priced elderly and low-income residents out of major urban centers.
For Abascal, the return marks the end of a legal battle that lasted more than six years. Her new rent agreement mirrors the demands of national housing advocates who have called for rent caps based on income percentages rather than market fluctuations.
