06/10/2026
Across the world, renters are standing up for the right to a secure home.
Images of 87-year-old María del Carmen "Maricarmen" Abascal being removed from the Madrid home she had lived in for more than 70 years have sparked protests across Spain and reignited a national debate about renting, housing affordability and tenant rights. Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets demanding stronger protections for renters and action on the country's housing crisis.
Maricarmen's story has struck a chord because it speaks to a growing reality in many parts of the world. After the apartment she called home for decades was acquired by an investment fund, the rent increased to a level she could no longer afford on her pension, ultimately leading to her eviction.
For many, her experience symbolises the consequences of housing becoming increasingly commodified. When homes are viewed primarily as investment opportunities, tenants can find themselves displaced by rising rents, financial speculation and the pursuit of higher returns. The role of large investment and large investment funds (so-called "vulture" fund)s in residential housing has become a focal point of public concern in Spain's housing debate.
Housing is more than a commodity. A safe, affordable, stable home – rented or owned – is where people build their lives, maintain community connections, raise families and set their roots.
As renters in Spain call for stronger protections, their message resonates far beyond national borders. Tenants Queensland continues to call for an end to evictions without reasonable grounds (i.e. remove “End of A Fixed Term” as a reason to end tenancies), a limit to how much the rent can be raised annually, and the inclusion of energy efficiency minimum standards.
The average rental price in Spain has almost doubled over the past decade. When Maricarmen Abascal was evicted, she became the symbol of a fed-up nation.
