Spain bans evictions until 2030 after protests over elderly woman

Spain's coalition government has approved a new package of housing measures following nationwide protests driven by the country's housing crisis. The policy changes were accelerated by the high-profile eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her home in Madrid last week, an incident that left her hospitalized after being removed on a stretcher.

Ministers gathered on Tuesday to finalize the proposals, presented in the form of two decrees. While the measures take effect immediately, they must secure approval from Congress within a month, with the government aiming to hold a vote as early as this Friday. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's leftist minority government lacks a parliamentary majority and has previously faced blocks on rental decrees from right-leaning parties, such as a blocked rental contract rollover in April.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Health Minister Mónica García, representing the Sumar alliance, announced that the new measures will offer relief to more than five million individuals. The agreed-upon provisions include:

• A temporary ban on evictions until 2030.
• The rolling over of rental contracts until 2028.
• Stricter regulations on short-term and room rentals.
• A total ban on the purchase of residential housing by investment firms.

"It is time to intervene in the speculative housing market and start striking a balance between ordinary citizens and vulture funds."

Mónica García, Health Minister of Spain

However, the measures have met political resistance. Míriam Nogueras, a spokeswoman for the centre-right Junts party, criticized the agreement for leaving small landlords vulnerable, stating that grouping everyday investors who put savings into a single property alongside multimillion-euro vulture funds is a major mistake for the housing sector.