Barcelona judge halts eviction in Sant Andreu under new housing decree

First eviction halted under new decree

On Thursday morning, a Barcelona court suspended the scheduled 9:30 AM eviction of a resident named Macarena in the Sant Andreu district. The ruling marked the first judicial application of Spain's newly approved housing decree, commonly referred to as the Maricarmen decree. The tenant union Sindicat de Llogateres submitted an urgent suspension appeal invoking the royal decree-law, which was approved by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday and published in the Official State Gazette on Wednesday. Following the filing, the presiding magistrate halted the eviction order for the property located on Calle Otger, where dozens of neighbors and housing activists had gathered to block the entry of judicial officials.

Sindicat de Llogateres spokesperson Enric Aragonès confirmed the court's acceptance of the emergency legal filing.

We submitted a suspension appeal protected under the approved decree and the court has accepted it.

Case background on Calle Otger

Macarena had lived in the Sant Andreu apartment since 2017 under a verbal agreement with the property owner, paying a monthly rent of 850 euros. In 2024, the landlord attempted to raise the monthly payment, prompting the tenant to request a formal written lease. According to Sindicat de Llogateres, the owner rejected the request, offered a single room for the same price instead, and initiated an eviction process. The union reported that the tenant lives in a vulnerable socioeconomic situation, has a diagnosed mental health disorder, and lacks alternative accommodation. Prior attempts by the Sant Andreu Housing Office to offer the landlord renovation subsidies in exchange for placing the unit into a municipal housing pool received no response, and an earlier eviction attempt in 2026 was also halted after protests.

Protections under the Maricarmen decree

The new royal decree-law was introduced following public attention surrounding the eviction of Maricarmen Abascal in Madrid. Under the decree's provisions, Spain extends the eviction moratorium until 31 December 2030 for individuals who prove vulnerability and possess no alternative housing option. The measure protects tenants facing expulsion who meet specific social criteria, preventing bailiffs from executing court-ordered evictions. Housing advocates had mobilized across Barcelona to prevent the removal before the legal relief was granted. The tenant union posted an update regarding the outcome and the pending legislative challenge.

Today Maca stays in her home. Tomorrow, the votes in Congress must decide whether this decree remains in force or if Maca should have been evicted.

Upcoming congressional validation vote

The long-term validity of the eviction suspension depends on a vote scheduled for Friday in the Congress of Deputies. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government has not yet secured the necessary parliamentary majority to validate the two housing royal decrees. While Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya leader Oriol Junqueras indicated his party would support the measure, ERC congressional spokesperson Gabriel Rufián noted that their representatives would examine every word before finalizing their vote. Meanwhile, Junts per Catalunya expressed opposition to the decrees, arguing that the regulations fail to protect families. If Junts and other opposition groups vote against the texts, the decrees will lapse, reversing the new eviction protections.