Madrid pensioner Maricarmen could return home after eviction deal

An agreement would give the 87-year-old an eight-year rental contract with her rent capped at 30 per cent of her income

For a few days, it looked as though Maricarmen Abascal had lost the home she had known for 70 years. Now, just six days after the 87-year-old was evicted from her Madrid apartment, there is a real possibility that she could return.

An agreement has been reached between the company that owns the property and Maricarmen's representatives, which would allow her to move back into the flat on Calle Alcalde Sáinz de Baranda in the Retiro neighbourhood. The agreement still needs to be approved by Maricarmen herself, but if she accepts it, she could return home as soon as she is discharged from hospital.

It is an extraordinary turnaround after what has been a difficult few days for the elderly Madrid resident. Maricarmen was evicted on September 23 after living in the same home since 1956. She was taken to hospital following the eviction and remains there while doctors monitor her condition.

Her case attracted a lot of attention across Madrid, with neighbours, campaigners, organisations and members of the public coming together to protest against the eviction and demand a solution that would allow her to remain in her home.

Madrid comes together to support Maricarmen

The response grew well beyond the people living in Maricarmen's neighbourhood. On Saturday, thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid for a demonstration organised by the Sindicato de Inquilinas under the slogan 'Ni una Maricarmen más' – 'Not one more Maricarmen'. The march began at Puerta del Sol before passing the regional government headquarters and Madrid City Hall on its way to the Congress of Deputies.

The protest was followed by a camp in Puerta del Sol, where hundreds of people stayed overnight and continued demanding action over Maricarmen's situation and the housing crisis in general.

The case had already attracted support from well-known figures, including British-born pianist James Rhodes, who had offered to help pay Maricarmen's rent and even offered to buy the property so she could remain there.

But much of the response came from ordinary people. Neighbours offered their help, people gathered outside the property and campaigners organised demonstrations and a growing presence in the centre of Madrid. The story became about much more than one elderly woman's eviction, with Maricarmen's name becoming part of a growing debate about housing and the security of people who have lived in their homes for decades.

And it showed the absolute power of the Madrileño community; when they put their foot down, they usually get what they want.

Decía Lucía Etxebarría que no había nadie en la Puerta del Sol. Así está a horas de que se decida si se aprueba el decreto Mari Carmen. De momento ya se ha anunciado que Mari Carmen vuelva a su casa. No basta, no queremos ninguna Mari Carmen más.pic.twitter.com/1FIjK3VXMk

— Julián Macías Tovar (@JulianMaciasT) September 28, 2026

A deal could allow Maricarmen to return to her old home

After several days of protests and consistent pressure, representatives of Maricarmen and Urbagestión, the company that owns the property, met at the Empresa Municipal de la Vivienda y Suelo (EMVS) in Madrid on Monday September 28. The meeting lasted more than four hours and ended with an agreement for Maricarmen to return to the flat as a tenant.

Under the proposed agreement, she would receive a new rental contract lasting eight years. The rent would be capped at 30% of her net income, with the exact amount still to be calculated. Her representatives expect the monthly rent to be similar to the amount she was paying before the eviction, which was around €500 including bills.

The agreement has been arranged through the EMVS's Servicio de Intermediación del Alquiler, a municipal service that provides support to both landlords and tenants. It also gives the property owner insurance covering the home and possible rent arrears.

The most important step now is for Maricarmen herself to approve the agreement. She was still in hospital when the meeting took place and had not yet been told the outcome. Her representatives planned to explain the deal to her once she was well enough to make a decision.

If she signs, the plan is for her to return directly to the home where she has spent most of her life as soon as she is discharged from hospital.

After being removed from that home on a stretcher less than a week ago, Maricarmen may now be able to return to the home she has lived in since 1956.

Images: X/Oskar Matute