The streets of the Ibiza neighborhood in Madrid reflect the struggle of María del Carmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman, who faces imminent eviction after having lived all her life in an apartment on Sainz de Baranda Street. Maricarmen, as her neighbors know her, inherited the old rent contract signed by her father in 1956, which she has kept until now thanks to the subrogations permitted by law. However, the new owners, the Urbagestión Desarrollo e Inversión S.L. fund, seek to triple their monthly rent from 500 euros to 1,650 euros, an amount unsustainable for their pension of 1,450 euros. The situation has highlighted the problems of the rental system in Spain, especially for older people living alone.
The case of Maricarmen is particularly significant due to the historical restrictions that discriminated against women in lease agreements during Franco's regime. Although he initially managed to win in court, the Supreme Court ruled against him in March last year. With the support of the Tenants' Union, Maricarmen denounces the lack of humanity in the current housing laws that prioritize formalities over social realities. While seeking justice and hoping to avoid eviction, her story reflects both a personal problem and a broader crisis of access to decent housing in Spain, where evictions continue to affect dozens of people daily.
Read the full news article on The Country.
