1 day ago
Evicted Spanish octogenarian considers landlord offer after nationwide housing protests
Maricarmen Abascal is an 87-year-old woman in Spain.
She had lived in the same apartment for more than 70 years.
Last week, officials removed her from the home on a stretcher.
Her eviction upset many people and led to protests across Spain.
Some protesters camped in Madrid’s central Sol square.
The fund that owns the apartment, UrbaGestion, has now made a preliminary offer.
The offer might let Abascal return if she accepts its conditions.
Her lawyer is studying the proposal but says Abascal should never have been forced out.
Activists want stronger rules to stop sudden evictions and large rent increases.
Maricarmen Abascal, 87, was evicted from her home after living there for more than 70 years.
She was removed on a stretcher, prompting demonstrations and an encampment at Madrid’s Sol square.
UrbaGestion, the fund owning the apartment, made a preliminary offer that could allow her to return.
Abascal’s lawyer said she is reviewing the offer but criticized the company’s earlier refusal to negotiate.
Activists are demanding rent controls and automatic lease renewals, while the government considers measures to curb rental prices.
- Who
- Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman; her lawyer Beatriz Duro; UrbaGestion; housing activists; and Spanish political parties.
- What
- Abascal is considering a preliminary offer that could allow her to return to the apartment from which she was evicted.
- Where
- The apartment is in Spain; protests took place across the country, including at Madrid’s central Sol square.
- When
- The eviction occurred the previous week, and the offer was made late Monday before September 29.
- Why
- The eviction triggered public anger amid concerns about Spain’s housing crisis, evictions, and rising rental prices.
Tenant advocates and activists
Landlord and government positions
Abascal’s return
Tenant advocates and activists
Her lawyer welcomed the proposal but said Abascal should never have been forced to leave and criticized the landlord for delaying negotiations.
Landlord and government positions
UrbaGestion offered a preliminary agreement that could permit her return if she agrees to its terms.
Housing protections
Tenant advocates and activists
Activists are calling for rent freezes, automatic lease renewals, and better protection for vulnerable people facing eviction.
Landlord and government positions
The government’s reported measures would seek to curb soaring rental prices, but they still need approval in a fragmented parliament.
Responsibility for the crisis
Tenant advocates and activists
Abascal’s lawyer accused local, regional, and national authorities of failing to respond adequately to evictions and the wider housing problem.
Landlord and government positions
The reported agreement between the Socialists and Sumar indicates an effort by governing parties to address rental costs through new measures.
Key facts
- Age
- Maricarmen Abascal is 87 years old.
- Length of residence
- She had lived in the apartment for more than seven decades.
- Landlord
- UrbaGestion, a fund that owns the apartment.
- Proposed outcome
- A preliminary agreement could allow Abascal to return if she accepts its terms.
- Protest location
- Hundreds encamped at Madrid’s central Sol square.
- Activist demands
- A rent freeze and automatic lease renewals without abusive rent increases.
- Government action
- The Socialists and Sumar reportedly agreed on measures to curb soaring rental prices, but passage faces difficulty in a fragmented parliament.
Quotes
Beatriz Duro
Lawyer representing Maricarmen Abascal
“I hope this case serves to provide a collective response to the housing crisis.”
theprint.in
“She should never have been forced to leave.”
theprint.in
Sources
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