Agreement paves way for 87-year-old Spaniard to return home
After days of protests, landlord Urbagestión has agreed to a new tenancy agreement, although the woman must still approve the terms.
The 87-year-old Spanish woman who was evicted from her Madrid home last week may be able to return. Following talks between her representatives, landlord Urbagestión and municipal housing company EMVS, the parties reached an agreement on Monday.
The agreement was reached after more than four hours of talks in Madrid. EMVS acted as mediator between the landlord, her lawyer and her family. According to Spanish public and regional broadcasters, it was agreed that she could return under a new tenancy agreement. The woman herself must still agree to the terms before the arrangement becomes final.
The woman had lived in the flat in the Retiro district for about 70 years. Her father signed the original tenancy agreement in 1956. After his death, the agreement was first transferred to her mother and later to her daughter. The case therefore hinged on whether she could still claim the old tenancy terms.
The property was cleared on 23 September after a years-long legal battle. According to Spanish media, it was the fourth attempt to carry out the eviction. After leaving, the woman was taken to hospital. She had previously rejected an offer of temporary emergency accommodation from the city authorities, according to reports on the case.
The owner had previously proposed placing the property in a municipal affordable-rent scheme. EMVS rejected the proposal because, according to the municipality, it did not meet the legal requirements. During Monday’s talks, the parties then sought another arrangement so that she could return under a new tenancy agreement.
The eviction became a national symbol in the debate over Spain’s housing market. Tenants’ organisations staged protests in Madrid and other cities. They see the case as an example of the tension between protecting long-term tenants and the rights of owners and property companies.
The level of the new rent and any other applicable terms had not been made public at the time of writing. Nor is it yet known exactly when the woman can return. The agreement therefore represents a significant breakthrough, but not yet a complete solution. The case also remains part of a broader debate about affordability, rent regulation and the role of municipalities.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- An 87-year-old woman was evicted from her home in Madrid on 23 September after a legal tenancy dispute.
- The owner and her representatives reached an agreement on 28 September, with mediation by EMVS, on a new tenancy agreement.
- The woman must still approve the terms; the precise terms are not public.
- An earlier proposal to include the property in a municipal affordable-rent scheme was rejected.
Left
Arguments The government must prevent long-term tenants from being driven out of their neighbourhoods by property pressures. An individual return is welcome, but structural rent regulation and more public housing are needed.
Values Housing security, protection for vulnerable tenants and public responsibility carry significant weight.
Consequences Without stronger protection, more older people and those on lower incomes could lose their homes; stricter rules could affect the availability of rental properties and investment.
Centre
Arguments A solution must provide both humane protection and legal certainty for owners. Municipal mediation, income-based rents and clear rules could prevent every dispute from being resolved only after protests.
Values Legal certainty, practicality and social protection must be weighed together.
Consequences An individual arrangement may resolve the immediate situation, but transparent criteria are needed to prevent arbitrariness and the creation of precedents.
Right
Arguments An owner should in principle be able to dispose of their property, and tenancy agreements should be predictable. The government should mainly provide targeted support to people who cannot afford their rent, without placing the entire solution on private owners.
Values Property rights, freedom of contract and a limited but targeted government are central.
Consequences Excessively restrictive rent controls could discourage supply; insufficient support could still drive vulnerable tenants from their homes.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The article’s central points are confirmed by several public Spanish sources. The terms and implementation date of the agreement remain uncertain, but this is clearly marked as such in the text.
- confirmed Following talks between Urbagestión, the woman’s representatives and EMVS, an agreement was reached on her return. — Confirmed by À Punt, La Voz de Galicia and G24; EMVS acted as mediator. source
- confirmed The woman must still ratify the terms of the agreement. — This is explicitly reported by La Voz de Galicia and G24. source
- confirmed The woman had lived in the property for about 70 years and the original agreement dated from 1956. — La Voz de Galicia mentions both facts. source
- confirmed The eviction took place on 23 September 2026. — The date appears in reports by La Voz de Galicia and Euronews. source
- confirmed The city authorities rejected an earlier proposal for the ReViVa programme because it did not meet the legal requirements. — RTVE and Euronews describe the rejection and the stated reason. source
- confirmed The eviction led to protests in Madrid and other Spanish cities. — Euronews describes protests in Madrid and other cities following the eviction. source
- uncertain The precise rent, contract length and return date have not yet been made public. — The public reports consulted do not give these terms; this has therefore been presented as a current uncertainty. source
Editor's note
It is certain that an agreement on a new tenancy agreement was reached after mediation and that the woman must still approve the terms. The precise rent, contract length and return date have not been made public.Sources
- Acord entre Urbagestión i Maricarmen perquè torne a sa casa — À Punt
- El Ayuntamiento y la abogada de Maricarmen se reúnen esta tarde — RTVE
- Maricarmen volverá a su casa tras llegar a un acuerdo con Urbagestión — La Voz de Galicia
- El Ayuntamiento de Madrid rechaza la propuesta para que Maricarmen vuelva a su casa — Euronews
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „spanje madrid”
- AD — „spanje madrid”
- de Volkskrant — „spanje madrid”