“Not one more Maricarmen”: what is happening with housing in Spain

In late September 2026, the eviction in Madrid of Maricarmen, an 87-year-old woman who had lived in the same home for more than seven decades, became a symbol of concern about access to housing in Spain. Since then, the slogan “Ni una Maricarmen más” (“Not one more Maricarmen”) has spread through demonstrations and protest camps in many cities.

What happened

• The eviction took place on 23 September and the images were widely shared.
• On 26 September a demonstration marched through central Madrid, and that same night a protest camp began in the Puerta del Sol, later replicated in other cities.
• A few days later an agreement was reached so that Maricarmen can return to her home.
• The Government approved a package of housing measures, processed as two decrees.

What measures were proposed

Among other things, the package included extended protection against evictions, stricter regulation of rental contracts, a temporary ban on certain funds buying homes until 2028, and tax benefits for tenants and landlords.

An open debate

Neither decree passed the vote in the Spanish Parliament. Supporters argue they were urgent measures; critics question their effectiveness and their impact on housing supply. Meanwhile, demographic pressure remains: the population has grown by around three million people since 2015.

Beyond this particular case, the debate raises an underlying question: how to balance protection for the most vulnerable with the need to increase the supply of available housing. It is a complex balance involving public authorities, landlords, tenants and the property sector itself, and it is likely to remain high on the agenda in the coming months.

We will keep updating this article as there is news about new housing measures going through Parliament.

Cover photo: protest camp in the Puerta del Sol, 26 September 2026. Eneko Torres Peco, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.