87-year-old evicted from Madrid home after 70 years as rent soars 247%

An 87-year-old Spanish woman was evicted from her Madrid apartment on Wednesday, September 23, after living there for 70 years, following a 247% rent increase imposed by a new property owner. Police used tear gas to remove protesters blocking the eviction. María del Carmen Abascal, known as "Maricarmen," had lived in the Retiro district apartment since 1956 under a low-rent old contract. In 2018, investment firm Urbagestión Desarrollo e Inversión bought the building and challenged her lease, ultimately winning in court and demanding monthly rent of 2,500 euros, which she could not afford. The eviction proceeded despite a formal request from the UN Human Rights Committee in June to halt it and find alternative housing. The company is also seeking 10,000 euros in damages from a tenants' union that supported her. Maricarmen refused a nursing home placement and chose to stay with family.