Retiro residents clash over Maricarmen eviction and new housing decree
The eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen from 46 Alcalde Sainz de Baranda sparked protests, a new housing decree and mixed reactions from neighbours.
On 23 September 2026, 87-year-old Maricarmen was evicted from her flat at 46 Alcalde Sainz de Baranda in the Retiro district, a case that quickly became a national housing controversy. A plaque on the façade records the eviction and the owners, Ricardo Alonso Fernández and Fernando Alonso Fuentes of Urbagestión, sparking heated debate among locals. A mediated deal, overseen by the EMVS, will allow her to move back once she is discharged from Gregorio Marañón hospital, with a new eight-year lease at roughly €500 monthly, not exceeding 30% of her income.
While some neighbours and a local bar-owner welcome her return, others accuse her of past misconduct and criticize the plaque for naming the landlords. The protest camp at Puerta del Sol entered its sixth night, and the government launched its first “Decree Maricarmen” housing regulation on 1 October.
Why it matters
It highlights Spain’s housing crisis and how a single eviction can trigger national policy and community division.
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