Two planned evictions, one in Barcelona's Poblenou district and another in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, have been temporarily suspended, according to the Tenants' Union. The cases add to the wider housing pressure facing Barcelona and its metro area.
In Barcelona, the union said the suspension followed a legal breach by property firm Maramca. It said the company had not carried out prior mediation with the tenant, which is a required step before an eviction can go ahead. The union also said there were "numerous indications" that Maramca is not meeting its obligation to create at least six social housing units on the property, as set out in urban development agreements.
The union also pointed to online adverts showing 50-square-metre flats renting for 1,700 euros a month. It said those prices do not fit social housing rules or rent controls. For official background on housing policy in the city, see the Barcelona City Council housing pages.
In L'Hospitalet, the case involved a family who had lived in their rental home for more than a decade. The Tenants' Union said it cancelled a planned concentration after commitments made by the council to the affected residents. The family had previously reported a lack of support from municipal social services and said they did not have a stable alternative home.
The union said the family has now been "fully reincorporated into social services care" and that those services have "assumed a firm commitment" not to leave the family on the street until a stable and suitable housing solution is found. For more local coverage of housing and tenant issues, see our Community page and Sport page for other city news.
Poblenou, in Barcelona's Sant Martí district, is going through rapid change, with rising rents and pressure on long-term residents. The Tenants' Union continues to campaign for stronger tenant protections and more social housing across the region.
Originally published by El Periódico Barcelona. Read original article.
