Spain's coalition government has approved a package of housing measures in response to nationwide protests triggered by the forced eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her Madrid apartment last week, according to Health Minister Mónica García.
Ministers gathered on Tuesday to finalize the proposals, which include a possible moratorium on evictions lasting until 2030. García said the measures would bring relief to more than five million people across the country.
The announcement follows days of demonstrations that have spread through several Spanish cities. What began as a localized response to one woman's removal from her home has evolved into a broader movement demanding action on housing affordability and tenant protections.
Maricarmen Abascal, the 87-year-old at the center of the controversy, was forcibly removed from her apartment on a stretcher and subsequently hospitalized. Her case quickly became a symbol of what critics describe as an increasingly unforgiving housing market.
On Monday, her lawyer said a deal had been reached with the company that owns the property, allowing her to return home. Because she was unable to attend the meeting while recovering in hospital, Abascal has not yet signed the agreement.
The eviction sparked an encampment in Madrid's Puerta del Sol, a central square that has become the focal point of the protests. Hundreds of people have joined the camp, which has drawn attention to the broader housing crisis affecting renters and homeowners alike.
Similar demonstrations have taken place in Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, and Cadiz, underscoring the nationwide scope of concern over rising rents, limited affordable housing, and the role of large investment firms in the property market.
García outlined the key elements of Tuesday's agreement, saying the government would pursue a ban on evictions through 2030. She also said contracts would be extended until 2028, offering tenants longer-term stability amid an uncertain market.
Additional measures include tighter regulation of short-term rentals and room rentals, a sector that has expanded rapidly in Spanish cities and, according to critics, has reduced the supply of long-term housing for residents. The government also aims to prohibit investment firms from purchasing residential properties.
"It is time to intervene in the speculative housing market and start striking a balance between ordinary citizens and vulture funds," García said, framing the proposals as a corrective to years of market-driven policies that have favored institutional investors over ordinary residents.
She credited the protests and encampments for pushing the issue onto the political agenda. "Thanks to the mobilisations and the encampments. Without you, this would not have been possible," she said, acknowledging the role of grassroots pressure in shaping the government's response.
However, the measures face significant political hurdles. The leftist coalition government, composed of the ruling Socialists and junior partner Sumar, lacks a majority in parliament. The decree must be approved by lawmakers within 30 days of its publication, meaning the government will need to negotiate with opposition parties to secure passage.
Opposition politician Míriam Nogueras, spokeswoman for the pro-Catalan independence party Junts, criticized the agreement for what she described as insufficient protection for small property owners. She said evictions involving large funds and institutional investors should be stopped, but argued that lumping together individual landlords with major investment firms was a mistake.
"We all agreed that evictions - where the property is owned by a fund, a vulture fund, run by someone managing millions of euros - obviously need to be stopped," Nogueras told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE. "Lumping together in this category those who have invested their savings in a flat, a restaurant or a property - putting them all in the same basket - is a mistake."
Her comments highlight the political balancing act facing the government as it tries to address public anger over housing while avoiding alienating smaller property owners who may see themselves as unfairly targeted by the new rules.
Socialist Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez is expected to provide further details on the measures at a news conference later on Tuesday, offering clarity on how the government intends to implement and enforce the proposed changes.
The eviction of Abascal has become a rallying point for a growing movement. Her case drew widespread attention after images circulated of her being carried out of her home on a stretcher, and it has since been cited by activists as evidence of the human cost of Spain's housing shortage.
The protests reflect deeper anxieties about housing across Spain, where many residents face rising rents, stagnant wages, and limited options for affordable accommodation. The government's proposed ban on purchases by investment firms represents one of the most direct attempts yet to curb the influence of institutional capital in the residential market.
If approved, the measures would mark a significant shift in Spanish housing policy, potentially setting a precedent for other European countries grappling with similar tensions between tenant protections and property rights. The coming weeks of parliamentary debate will determine whether the government can translate public momentum into lasting legislative change.
(0)