Madrid judge blocks multiple evictions of vulnerable families after high-profile case

In a series of rulings, Madrid’s Administrative Court 29, led by Judge Raquel Catalá, stopped up to eight pending evictions of vulnerable tenants managed by the municipal housing company EMVS. Catalá described the rapid activation of EMVS in recent eviction cases as a "notorious fact" and demanded that the agency provide detailed, sufficient precautionary measures for affected families, many of whom include minors. She rejected the standard practice of directing displaced residents to Samur Social’s emergency assistance, calling for more substantive solutions.

The judge also invoked EU treaty obligations that guarantee access to affordable housing and protection against forced evictions. The decisions come after the widely publicised eviction of an 87-year-old woman, Maricarmen, whose case prompted the mayor to highlight alternative housing programs such as the Service of Rental Mediation (SIA).