Jani and Loli, an elderly couple in Barcelona’s Gràcia neighbourhood, face eviction on Wednesday 11th November from the flat where four generations of Loli’s family have lived, as reported by elDiario.es Catalunya. The property, on Carrer de Fraternitat, remains under a rental contract in the name of Loli’s great-grandfather, despite the couple paying rent for 18 years through informal, verbal agreements with the landlord.
The owners, the Majo Hostench family, inherited the property after the patriarch’s death in 2024 and have refused to recognise the couple’s tenancy. Though Loli and Jani meet criteria for protection under Catalonia’s housing decrees, including vulnerability, lack of alternative housing, and residence in a building owned by a large landlord, a judge has upheld the eviction.
Loli, who receives a mental health pension, and Jani, who has a recognised disability and non-contributory benefits, pay just 150 euros monthly under the old contract. Other flats in the building now rent for around 600 euros. Neighbours suspect the owners intend to vacate and renovate the 100-year-old building.
"There have been four generations here, too many memories that I risk losing," Loli told elDiario.es Catalunya.
The Sindicat d’Habitatge de Gràcia filed a last-minute appeal on Tuesday morning, arguing the eviction should have followed a verbal trial for precarious tenancy, not an ordinary process. Activists plan to gather outside the flat on Wednesday morning to resist the eviction during the general housing strike.
Residents affected by similar threats in Catalonia can contact local housing unions or check eligibility for protection via the Catalan Housing Agency.
Sources: elDiario.es.
