Madrid mayor's plans to evict 185 families halted
A Spanish judge has halted a state-run building company’s plans to change the social housing contracts for 185 needy families in Spain’s capital as a means of solving their financial problems.
Madrid Mayor Ana Botella had backed the municipal company’s plans (EMVS) to amend the indefinite housing contracts of the crisis-hit families with a clause that would force them to leave within the next three years.
According to online Spanish daily El Boletín, EMVS was hoping to evict the 185 families and sell their flats to a developer as a way of resolving their debts.
They also reportedly sent out letters to the families warning them they would be taken to court if they refused to abide by their plans.
But neighbourhood association ‘Yo no me voy’ (I’m not going anywhere) has fought back and agreed to take the matter to court, arguing that the government’s scheme “is one-sided and that the deadline leaves us in dire straits.”
Their predicament has been recognized by a judge in Madrid’s High Court, who ruled in favour of them in six separate sentences.
The latest involved a woman in her 80s with serious health problems who was about to be evicted by the government building group.
The neighbourhood association, formed in 2013, has filed a lawsuit against Madrid Town Hall, Mayor Ana Botella and EMVS for “real estate harassment”.
Their appeal has been rejected but judges continue to rule Madrid authorities have no right to change the clauses of their social housing contracts to solve their financial issues
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Madrid Mayor Ana Botella had backed the municipal company’s plans (EMVS) to amend the indefinite housing contracts of the crisis-hit families with a clause that would force them to leave within the next three years.
According to online Spanish daily El Boletín, EMVS was hoping to evict the 185 families and sell their flats to a developer as a way of resolving their debts.
They also reportedly sent out letters to the families warning them they would be taken to court if they refused to abide by their plans.
But neighbourhood association ‘Yo no me voy’ (I’m not going anywhere) has fought back and agreed to take the matter to court, arguing that the government’s scheme “is one-sided and that the deadline leaves us in dire straits.”
Their predicament has been recognized by a judge in Madrid’s High Court, who ruled in favour of them in six separate sentences.
The latest involved a woman in her 80s with serious health problems who was about to be evicted by the government building group.
The neighbourhood association, formed in 2013, has filed a lawsuit against Madrid Town Hall, Mayor Ana Botella and EMVS for “real estate harassment”.
Their appeal has been rejected but judges continue to rule Madrid authorities have no right to change the clauses of their social housing contracts to solve their financial issues
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