Update, 11th November 2026: The eviction was postponed until December 3rd following a demonstration of around 500 people, including members of housing unions and residents, who gathered outside the couple's home in solidarity; the protest was backed by COSHAC and coincided with the city-wide housing strike, according to betevé. (Source: betevé).
Couple at Risk Despite Two Decades in Home
A vulnerable couple, both aged 60, face eviction from their rent-controlled apartment at Carrer de Fraternitat, number 24, in Barcelona’s Gràcia district, on the day of the city-wide housing strike. According to municipal sources, the couple has lived in the property for nearly 20 years but lacks a formal rental contract, as the tenancy was registered under a deceased uncle. The Barcelona City Council confirmed that attempts to subrogate the contract were rejected by the property owner, who has also declined to engage with the Service for Intervention and Mediation in Housing Loss and Occupation Situations (SIPHO). Officials stated the subrogation was not legally permissible because the previous tenant was not a direct family member under the terms of the law.
Court Denies Postponement Under New Housing Decree
The eviction has been justified by the court under the new housing decree introduced in early October 2026, which does not allow for delays in cases where legal subrogation conditions are not met. The ruling means the couple cannot benefit from protections that might otherwise pause evictions in vulnerable situations. One member of the couple has a recognised disability assessed at 65% under the Spanish grading system, and both are registered with SIPHO and the Gràcia Housing Office. They are also in the process of joining the Emergency Table and are listed on Barcelona’s Registry of Applicants for Official Protection Housing (RSHPOB). Despite these registrations, emergency temporary accommodation has not been activated, as city council sources indicated the couple has support from their family network. Residents facing housing loss can contact the Barcelona Housing Offices for assistance.
The goal is to prevent the loss of housing whenever possible and to foster alternatives that enable individuals and families to keep or get back residential autonomy.
Support is available through municipal social services, which assess each case individually and coordinate with housing offices to provide financial aid, mediation, or emergency housing where needed, as outlined on the city’s housing support page.
Sources: betevé (ACN), Ajuntament de Barcelona.
