Spain's housing crisis came into sharper focus when an 87-year-old woman was forced to leave the Madrid apartment she had occupied for roughly 70 years, according to the BBC.
Here's what to know
The apartment is in Madrid's Retiro district, and Maricarmen, the 87-year-old tenant, had lived there since she was a child.
The lease began with her father in 1956, and she stayed in the apartment after her parents died.
After years under a rent cap, the situation changed when Urbagestión bought the property in 2018.
Citing what it claimed was a legal glitch, the company increased the monthly rent from €500 ($569) to €2,650 ($3,015), then later reduced it to €1,650 ($1,877).
However, Maricarmen could not cover the cost with her €1,350 ($1,536) monthly pension.
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More background
Hundreds of people turned out in support during the eviction, chanting "Maricarmen stays" outside the building.
Among those present were Carlos Bardem, Javier Bardem's brother, and singer Ana Belén. Some activists tried to stop the process by blocking the stairs inside.
The high-profile incident came at a time when households worldwide were under immense strain from unmanageable, rising living costs.
What can be done?
Public attention, neighborhood organizing, and tenant advocacy are among the fastest ways communities can respond when residents face displacement.
In Maricarmen's case, the courts had already stopped three earlier eviction attempts.
Cases like this often intensify calls for stronger renter protections, tighter oversight of sharp rent increases, and policies that preserve affordable housing in city centers.
For individual renters, documenting lease terms, seeking legal aid early, and joining tenant groups can make a major difference before a dispute escalates.
It can help to be proactive with landlords or building associations on restrictions that raise living costs. Those seeking practical changes where they live, including rules around cost-saving home habits, can use this resource to learn how to change HOA bylaws and work with landlords.
In a social media video described by the BBC, Maricarmen thanked the people who supported her against "this cruel struggle by someone who wants to earn money."
Where can I learn more?
These stories look at different ways renters can get squeezed when costs rise or protections fall short. They cover steep rent hikes, emergency price gouging, safety standards, and everyday rules that can make housing harder to keep affordable.
• After a safety complaint, a landlord imposed a massive rent increase that the tenant called illegal.
• In Los Angeles, landlords posted egregious rental prices as wildfire evacuees scrambled for shelter.
• In Arizona, lawmakers pushed new renter protections over dangerous indoor temperatures and landlord duties.
• A renter fought rules banning hanging laundry outside, arguing the restriction blocked simple savings.
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