A judge has denied the City Council access to the apartment of Alejandro Ibáñez, an elderly man opposing his eviction. The decision casts doubt on the works planned by the Council.
Alejandro Ibáñez, an 81-year-old man, has achieved a judicial victory that prevents the City Council of Madrid from evicting him from his home in the municipal senior apartments San Francisco, located in La Latina. The judge's decision is based on the lack of sufficient evidence from the Council to justify the need for eviction, raising serious questions about municipal management and its rehabilitation plans.
The conflict began in summer 2024, when the City Council announced its intention to relocate residents, claiming that it was necessary to carry out works to rectify structural deficiencies. However, many neighbours believed that these works could be conducted without the need to completely vacate the building.
In his ruling, the judge emphasises that there is no clear evidence demonstrating an imminent state of ruin or the absolute necessity to empty the property. This contradicts the City Council's assertions, which had insisted that the works must be carried out without occupants for safety reasons.
The Neighbourhood Association La Chispera has celebrated this judicial resolution as a setback for a municipal action considered poorly conceived. According to its representatives, this situation has caused great suffering to the affected elderly residents and has highlighted the lack of transparency from the City Council.
Despite the favourable ruling for Alejandro, two other residents have already been relocated following previous judicial decisions that allowed the Council to enter their homes. This fact highlights a disparity in how individual cases are being managed within the same legal context.
The City Council had planned a comprehensive reform with an estimated investment of 3.8 million euros, arguing that it was essential to improve living conditions. However, this project is stalled due to some residents' refusal to leave their homes. Local authorities maintain that over 57 users have long been waiting to start the necessary works and are currently relocated in other residences where they face significantly higher costs.
Despite the official commitment regarding the return to the original apartments under the same economic conditions after the reforms, many neighbours fear that these spaces will be allocated for other uses once vacated. One resident expressed her concern: "Knowing this council, once they leave, they won't come back."
The Social Policies Department has defended its position by stating that they have made multiple attempts to persuade users to facilitate the immediate start of the works. However, this argument has been questioned by the recent judicial ruling.
As this legal and social conflict progresses, it is clear that the situation affects not only Alejandro and his immediate neighbours; it also raises broader questions about how public policies related to housing and care for the elderly are managed. Neighbourhood associations continue to advocate for a more humane and transparent approach from the local government.
The next steps will now depend on the legal analysis of the ruling by the City Council and whether they decide to appeal or seek alternatives to advance their urban plan without violating fundamental rights.
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