What to know about Spain's housing protests sparked by an 87-year-old woman's eviction
Summary
Thousands of people in Spain protested against high housing costs after lawmakers rejected emergency rules to help renters. The demonstrations intensified after an 87-year-old woman named María del Carmen Abascal was evicted from her home, leading to camps being set up in city centers and calls for government action.Key Facts
- Protests took place in major Spanish cities like Madrid and Valencia, demanding affordable housing and tenant protection.
- Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to control protesters at a real estate summit in Valencia.
- The eviction of María del Carmen Abascal, who has lived in her Madrid home for 70 years, sparked widespread outrage.
- Abascal was removed from her apartment on Sept. 23 and later allowed to return after a deal with the real estate company.
- The Spanish government tried to introduce emergency laws to limit evictions, slow property speculation, and give longer leases to renters.
- Conservative parties in parliament blocked the new housing measures on Friday.
- Many young and poor Spaniards struggle to find affordable rentals due to a small rental market and rising rents, which have nearly doubled in ten years.
- About 26% of Spanish renters spend 40% of their income on rent and utilities, much higher than the EU average of 18%.
- Spain has fewer government-owned rental homes compared to other countries, with less than 2% of rentals publicly owned.
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