Madrid evicts 87-year-old after 70 years as rent jumps from 500 to 2,650 euros

An 87-year-old woman, Maricarmen Abascal, was evicted from her Madrid home of 70 years after the owner raised her rent from 500 to 2,650 euros per month. The eviction was carried out despite protests from around 400 people and an anonymous offer to cover the rent difference. Abascal had lived in the apartment since 1956 under a "renta antigua" contract. The legal battle centered on her 50% disability, which fell short of the 65% threshold required for protection under a second contract subrogation. In March 2026, Spain's Supreme Court ruled in favor of the property company. The woman, who has a pension of about 1,450 euros, was taken to a hospital by ambulance. Activists had occupied the building overnight, and police used a battering ram to clear the entrance. The eviction followed eight years of legal proceedings.