Courts in Barcelona suspended nearly half of all scheduled evictions in the city last month after a new housing decree took effect, ARA reported.
The decree, designed to protect vulnerable tenants, led to 129 evictions being halted in the last 30 days. That figure represents an increase from the 30 suspended in September, before the new measure was in place.
The impact of the new decree is clear in the numbers. In October, 290 evictions were scheduled in Barcelona. Of those, 110 resulted in families losing their homes, a rate of 38%. This is a contrast to September, when 57% of the 167 scheduled evictions carried through, forcing 95 families from their homes.
The most dramatic change is the number of evictions suspended by the courts. In October, 129 scheduled evictions were suspended, ARA reported, with the vast majority of these suspensions directly linked to the application of the new decree.
The decree itself was passed in response to the case of Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman who died two weeks after being evicted from her Madrid home.
The decree temporarily suspends evictions for individuals considered vulnerable who have no alternative housing. However, the measure includes several exceptions. For instance, a judge can review the situation after one year and potentially change their ruling if the tenant’s vulnerability status has changed or if they have found another place to live.
Another exception prioritizes the protection of small property owners. If an eviction affects an owner who has one or two properties and is also considered at risk of vulnerability, their situation takes precedence over that of the tenant.
Despite these protections, ARA has found that some people with officially recognized vulnerability have not been shielded from eviction. This occurs in cases where the property owner on the other side of the dispute also qualifies as vulnerable.
The decree has also changed outcomes for evictions involving large landlords. In September, 45.7% of evictions from properties owned by large landlords resulted in the family being removed. In October, that figure dropped to 21%, as the majority of these cases were suspended.
While the decree has provided immediate relief for many families, it is not a permanent solution. Suspensions are often temporary, and some evictions have simply been postponed, with new dates already set.
Suspended evictions are causing major financial consequences. Most of these cases were due to unpaid rent, and the decree stipulates that the public administration—in this case, the Generalitat—must assume the accumulated debt. As more evictions are suspended, the financial burden on the Catalan executive grows.
This Thursday, the Spanish Congress’s permanent Deputation will debate and vote on the two housing decrees approved by the Council of Ministers after Pedro Sánchez called elections for November 29.
The first decree, which suspends evictions for vulnerable families and incorporates the extraordinary extension of rents, is expected to be approved. The progressive majority in the Deputation ensures its passage, unlike its earlier defeat in the Congress.
The second decree, which includes automatic lease renewals and requires a minimum of twelve monthly payments as compensation for tenants if a landlord wants to terminate contracts, is expected to fail. It was a measure for which Sumar pressured and a demand of the Tenant’s Union, but it is likely to be rejected by the PNV, PP, Vox, and Junts parties, preventing it from taking effect.
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