Thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid on Saturday, September 26, in a demonstration calling for action over Spain's housing crisis following the eviction of an 87-year-old woman who had lived in her rented home for more than seven decades.

The demonstration began at Puerta del Sol and continued through central Madrid towards the Spanish Congress, with protesters calling for stronger tenant protections and measures to address rising housing costs and evictions.

Dispute Over the Size of the Protest

The exact number of people attending is disputed.

Madrid's Government Delegation estimated that approximately 25,000 people took part in the demonstration. The organisers, the Madrid Tenants' Union, put attendance at around 300,000.

The protest was part of a wider day of housing demonstrations organised in around 40 cities under the slogan "Ni una Maricarmen más", meaning "Not another Maricarmen".

Because the two estimates differ substantially, the turnout is best described as a large demonstration rather than using the organisers' figure as an independently established attendance number.

The Eviction That Sparked the Demonstration

The protest followed the eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, 87, from her Madrid home on Wednesday, September 23.

Abascal had lived in the property for more than 70 years. Images of her removal from the apartment generated widespread public attention and became a focal point for the wider debate over housing affordability and tenant protection.

The circumstances surrounding her eviction have become a major point of discussion among housing campaigners, who are calling for changes to Spain's housing and eviction rules.

Protesters Demand Housing Measures

Demonstrators called for stronger protection for tenants, measures against rising rents and restrictions intended to address practices they say contribute to housing insecurity.

Campaigners also called for greater protection against evictions where alternative accommodation is not available.

The demonstration comes as housing costs remain a major issue in Spain. According to the National Statistics Institute, Spanish residential property prices increased by 12.2% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026. Second-hand homes rose by 12.9%, while new-build prices increased by 7.4%.

Protest Continues in Puerta del Sol

The demonstration did not entirely end when the march concluded.

Hundreds of people remained in Puerta del Sol overnight and into Sunday, with around 150 tents reported in the square.

The protesters are calling on the Spanish Government to reach an agreement on further housing measures, including a proposed housing decree expected to be discussed by the Council of Ministers.

Maricarmen Calls for Changes

Abascal, who remains in hospital, has publicly called for people to continue campaigning so that other tenants do not face circumstances similar to hers.

She has also referred to the housing measures being negotiated by the Spanish Government and urged supporters to continue pressing for changes to the law.

The Madrid City Council has rejected a proposal from the company that owns the apartment that would have allowed Abascal to return to the property under the terms proposed.

The council has instead offered mediation through Madrid's municipal housing company, with a meeting involving Abascal's representatives and the property owner scheduled for Monday.

Spain's Wider Housing Pressure

The Madrid demonstration comes amid a broader housing affordability problem across Spain.

Official data show that house prices continued to rise substantially during the second quarter of 2026, while separate rental-market measures have also highlighted the growing proportion of household income being spent on housing.

The Madrid protests have brought the issue back into the centre of Spain's political debate, with campaigners demanding immediate measures and the government negotiating further housing legislation.

For now, the size of Saturday's demonstration remains disputed, but the continuing camp in Puerta del Sol shows that the protest movement has extended beyond the original march.