Spanish Government Extends Eviction Ban, But Not All Bans Are Worth the Same

A single 87‑year‑old eviction has turned Spain’s housing crisis into a national crisis of etiquette.

The government, which had been dancing around the issue like a politician at a karaoke night, finally approved a package of measures aimed at easing the housing crunch, including a new extension of the ban on evictions of vulnerable people.

The decree, which was drafted after the press clanged its fists on the mayor’s balcony, states that the ban will remain in force until the next general election, or until the housing market decides to make a good turn, whichever comes first.

In a move that reads like a late‑night comedy sketch, the ban now applies not only to the elderly and disabled but also to anyone who can produce a valid proof of being a victim of a Spanish housing crisis.

The government’s Socialist Workers’ Party‑led coalition has been under pressure from a growing protest movement that, according to the organisers, has been chanting “No more homes for sale, just houses for people” while holding up signs that resemble actual houses.

The new measures include a cap on rent increases, a public registry of “home‑safe” status, and a mandatory “no‑eviction” clause that will be checked by a committee of house‑keepers.

The policy has been applauded by the elderly, who will finally get to enjoy the luxury of staying in their homes without the threat of being asked to move out.

Critics, however, say the measures are a Band‑Aid for a problem that’s been simmering for years, and that the real issue of affordable housing remains a distant dream.

Nonetheless, the government’s decision has already triggered a flurry of petitions on social media, with users demanding that the law be extended to include the occasional cat that has been evicted from a balcony.

In the end, the Spanish housing crisis might still be a puzzle, but at least the 87‑year‑old has a new chance to finish her knitting project without fear of a landlord’s call.