Residents of Madrid's Tribulete 7 Stand Against Institutional Real Estate Harassment
El Salto
- Residents of a residential building in the Lavapiés neighborhood of Madrid are maintaining a long-term collective resistance against an international investment fund seeking to evict them.
- The building, bought by Élix Rental Housing II in February 2024, has been the site of a landmark collective legal action against real estate harassment (mobbing).
- Out of 52 original households, 15 families continue to live in the building despite persistent pressure, construction-related disturbances, and individual eviction lawsuits.
Background and Conflict
- Élix Rental Housing II, an entity linked to AltamarCAM, specializes in acquiring properties, clearing them of tenants, renovating them, and reselling at higher prices.
- The landlord has utilized "mobbing" tactics, such as disruptive construction work and hazardous building conditions, to induce voluntary departures.
- On May 22, 2025, the tenants filed the first collective lawsuit in Spain for real estate harassment and coercion in a primary residence, marking a historic milestone in the judiciary.
The Human Impact
- The residents have formed a tight-knit community, sharing resources and providing mutual support to withstand the financial and psychological strain of the ongoing legal battle.
- Families report significant emotional stress, including impacts on children's safety and well-being due to the construction environment.
- Tenants have utilized creative protest methods, including musical marches and balcony concerts, to gain public support and visibility for their cause.
Legal Strategy
- The landlord, having failed to clear the building through harassment, has shifted to individual eviction lawsuits.
- Legal counsel for the tenants intends to leverage the principle of criminal prejudice, arguing that the pending collective criminal lawsuit should pause the individual civil eviction proceedings.
- Tenants emphasize that their struggle is a fight for the "right to the city" against a system that prioritizes real estate speculation over secure, affordable housing.