Spain’s Government has announced plans to ban rental evictions until 2030 after an 87-year-old woman was forced out of her home.
Maricarmen Abascal had lived in the property for 70 years, with her eviction sparking nationwide protests and renewed pressure on the Government to act on the country’s housing crisis.
The opposition has criticised the plan, which still needs to pass Parliament, where the Government lacks a majority.
Here’s what you need to know.
Last week, Maricarmen was evicted on a stretcher from her home in Madrid where she had lived since 1956.
The Madrid Tenants’ Union says the investment fund that owned the apartment raised her rent by 275% to $AU4,302 a month.
Protests
Maricarmen’s eviction sparked national uproar, with tens of thousands of people protesting across the country.
Hundreds of tents were set up in Madrid’s central Puerta del Sol plaza as part of the demonstrations.
The movement adopted the slogan “Ni una Maricarmen más”, meaning “not one more Maricarmen”.
The investment firm has since agreed to let Maricarmen return home.
Housing crisis
Spain has been grappling with a housing shortage for years, with rents continuing to rise.
The average asking rent hit $AU25 per square metre in August, up by 5.8% on the same month last year, according to property portal Idealista.
The rise has been linked to increased demand, limited supply and the growth of short-term rentals in popular areas.
The Bank of Spain estimates the country is in need of 750,000 more homes, projecting that figure will hit 1 million by 2028.
Your contribution ensures The Daily Aus can continue doing the work you love.
I want to give $10 monthly to help TDA keep doing the news.
Your details:
Govt response
On Tuesday, Cabinet approved two decrees aimed at reforming Spain’s housing market.
A decree allows the Government to introduce measures immediately, but Congress must approve it within 30 days or it lapses.
The measures include extending the eviction ban for vulnerable people until 2030 and limiting investment funds buying residential properties until 2028.
The latest reforms are expected to go to a vote on Friday (local time).
Opposition
Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo criticised the decree, arguing the Government could not solve a problem it had spent eight years creating in a matter of minutes.
The Government does not have a majority in Parliament, meaning it will need support from other parties to pass the proposed changes.
In April, Parliament rejected an earlier decree that would have allowed tenants to extend their leases after the Government failed to secure enough votes.
Australia
Australia has no national eviction law, with each state and territory setting its own rules.
Several states and territories have moved away from “no-grounds” evictions, where a landlord ends a tenancy without giving a reason.
In NSW, landlords have needed a valid reason, such as selling the property, to end a tenancy since May 2025.
Victoria introduced similar laws in November 2025.
Western Australia has also announced plans to ban no-grounds evictions.
