Eviction in Barcelona postponed after mass protest against coliving model

The eviction scheduled at a residential block on Sant Agustí Street in Barcelona's Gràcia neighborhood has been postponed until April 15 after sustained pressure from residents and housing activists. 

More than 500 people gathered outside the building on Wednesday morning to block the eviction. It follows the 2023 purchase of the apartment block by New Amsterdam Developers (NAD).

Protesters began gathering on Tuesday evening, with some spending the night outside the building as part of a protest vigil. 

The demonstration included a march through the neighborhood, cultural performances, and speeches. 

The judicial team, led by a court-appointed bailiff, reached the building at number 14, where tenant Txema Escorsa had been facing eviction. Following negotiations involving Escorsa, the Tenants' Union, and the Municipal Housing Institute's Mediation Service, authorities agreed to delay the expulsion.

Broader housing crisis

Escorsa has lived in the building for 11 years and pays €800 per month in rent. Speaking to protesters, he expressed gratitude for the turnout and emphasized that his case is not an isolated one.

"Seeing all these people here shows me that what I'm doing matters and that many of us agree this situation can't continue," he said. "Today it's me, but it could have been any other neighbor."

He added that the issue goes beyond an individual dispute. "This is no longer just a personal or union matter. It's something many people have made their own because they believe housing should be a right, not a business."

Unions denounce 'speculative' practices

Tenant groups say that since buying the property, NAD has declined to renew rental contracts in order to empty the building, renovate it, and re-let rooms individually for around €950 per month plus expenses.

With three rooms per apartment, this could bring in close to €3,000 per unit. The building previously housed 11 families; only five remain.

Enric Aragonès, spokesperson for the Tenants' Union, criticized the model. "Homes where people live cannot be turned into coliving spaces," he said, adding that the movement would resist the eviction.

Berta Munne, spokesperson for the Gràcia Housing Union, warned that action is needed to prevent similar conversions across the neighborhood and called for broader support to "stop the ongoing process of gentrification."

Mediation efforts underway

Tenant organizations say they have repeatedly attempted to negotiate with the property owner without success but remain open to an agreement that would allow residents to stay.

On Tuesday, the Tenants' Union formally requested mediation through the Barcelona Ombudsman, which has accepted the proposal. 

Barcelona City Council has backed the mediation and warned that "speculative actions" such as those attributed to NAD "are not welcome" in the city.

Government to investigate possible legal breaches

The Catalan government has announced it will open proceedings against NAD behind the Sant Agustí block after detecting a possible breach of housing regulations. 

Territory minister Sílvia Paneque said an inspection carried out on Tuesday 24 found indications that the sum of room rental prices could exceed legally established caps.

According to Paneque, the case could constitute a serious offence, with potential fines starting at €90,000 for each of the building's 23 homes. 

The government plans to initiate proceedings for all units in the building, as part of a broader enforcement effort. 

Since January, authorities have issued fines in 22 cases totaling €77,000 and are currently investigating around 480 additional cases.