Neighbours stop an eviction in the city centre and force the police to withdraw

The pulse of the city was felt once again this Tuesday in the heart of Madrid. A large group of people, mobilised from the encampment at Puerta del Sol, gathered in front of the entrance at Navas de Tolosa 5 to prevent an eviction scheduled just a few metres from Callao. The scene, only 500 metres from Sol, disrupted the routine of the area and made it clear that neighbourhood pressure remains a decisive factor in the centre.

The presence of the Policía Nacional did not deter those gathered outside the building. Chanting “fuera, fuera, fuera”, they managed to get the officers to leave without carrying out the eviction. According to the Sindicato de Inquilinas, the judicial commission announced that the eviction has been postponed until 14 October at 9:30 am.

These kinds of actions, increasingly common in the centre, show how neighbourhood organisation can alter the eviction schedule and force the authorities to withdraw. News spreads quickly among those who experience the housing crisis in Madrid up close, where each postponement is a relief for those who fear losing their home.

Navas de Tolosa street, located between Gran Vía and Puerta del Sol, is a strategic point in Madrid’s urban life. Its buildings, with their classic style and narrow entrances, have witnessed the transformation of the centre and the arrival of new residents and businesses. In recent years, property pressure and rising rents have made the area a regular scene of protests and demands. Madrid is already moving in that direction, where the defence of the right to housing blends with the daily life of those who walk these streets every day.