Madrid Authorities Evict 87-Year-Old Woman From Central Flat Over Rent Increase

Madrid authorities have forcibly evicted Maricarmen, an 87-year-old woman, from her flat in the city centre. The eviction, executed by municipal police and bailiffs, occurred after the property was acquired by a corporate entity which subsequently increased the rent beyond her means. Maricarmen had resided in the flat for 58 years.

Reports indicate that a large crowd of activists and neighbours attempted to prevent the eviction, forming a human chain. Despite their efforts, officers removed Maricarmen from the premises. Her lawyer stated that the new owners, a real estate firm, had refused to negotiate an affordable rent.

This incident underscores the intensifying housing crisis in Spain, particularly in major cities like Madrid and Barcelona, where property speculation and short-term rentals have driven up costs. Campaign groups contend that the interests of corporate landlords are consistently prioritised over the welfare of long-term tenants, particularly vulnerable elderly residents.

Maricarmen has temporarily moved in with her sister, though her long-term housing solution remains uncertain. Critics argue that such evictions, driven by profit motives, expose the shortcomings of current housing policies and the lack of protections for elderly citizens on fixed incomes against aggressive corporate property practices.