Evicted Spanish pensioner can move back home, lawyer says

An evicted elderly disabled woman, who has become symbolic of Spain's housing crisis, will be able to return to her home in Madrid, according to her lawyer.

Maricarmen Abascal, 87, was forcibly removed on a stretcher from her apartment of more than 70 years on 23 September. She was admitted to hospital after the eviction.

Her eviction has led to widespread anger across Spain, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has promised housing relief measures when his cabinet meets on Tuesday.

Abascal's lawyer, Beatriz Duro, told a press conference there had been "goodwill from both parties" and that she would pay a similar amount of rent under a new contract, averting a significant price hike.

Duro had met the investment company Urbagestión, which owns the apartment, for several hours on Monday, and the agreement they reached still has to be approved by Maricarmen Abascal, as she was unable to take part in the meeting.

She added that Abascal, who is being treated for exhaustion, would sign the deal when she felt better.

Up to 1,000 protesters welcomed the agreement at Madrid's Puerta del Sol, where hundreds of tents have been set up. However, the city's Tenants' Union has called on the government to approve deeper housing reforms "so that there are no more Maricarmens".

Abascal's father first rented the property in 1956 and she continued as the tenant after her parents died, during which time there was a cap on the rent.

Urbagestión, which bought the property in 2018, increased the rent from €500 per month (£428; $572) to €2,650 (£2,280; $3,020).

The company later offered to reduce this to €1,650 however she was still unable to pay this with her monthly pension of €1,350.

Three previous attempts to evict her were blocked by the courts.

Her case triggered nationwide protests and tens of thousands of people to march through the Spanish capital on Saturday to object to the eviction and to demand stronger protection for tenants in the face of a housing shortage and soaring rents.

Duro said the agreement, yet to be signed, was the "result of the social mobilisation".

Supporters called it a victory but promised to continue their fight to prevent similar evictions, and to press for more affordable housing.

The Bank of Spain estimates the country is short of 700,000 homes, based on the gap between demand and new construction.

Pedro Sánchez's Socialist Party, which lacks a majority in Parliament, is hoping to agree a new decree with his political allies to appease public outrage.

A council of ministers was due to meet on Tuesday morning, with left-wing ministers calling for permanent protection for tenants.

Negotiations went on through the night and the left-wing Catalan party ERC is said to have called for a halt to all evictions involving vulnerable people while also demanding a hike on taxes for tourist accommodation.

In a speech on Monday evening, Sánchez promised that the government would act responsibly to tackle the "housing emergency suffered by so many people".

"Patriotism also means preventing an 87-year-old woman from ending up on the street after a lifetime in her home," he said.

Dramatic eviction of woman aged 87 highlights Spain's housing shortage