A judge stops at the last minute the eviction of a family with three minors in Palma

A judge suspended at the last minute the eviction for non-payment of rent of a family with three minors in Palma, one of whom has a grade three autism spectrum disorder, as reported by Joan Segura, substitute spokesperson for Stop Evictions Mallorca. A dozen activists had gathered this morning in front of the home to support the family.

As Segura explained, the procedure began after one of the adults lost their job. The severance pay arrived after the deadline to pay the rent had expired, which led to the termination of the contract. The spokesperson pointed out that the eldest son is diagnosed with a grade three autism spectrum disorder and that the youngest is under study for a possible similar disorder.

The home is rented by a company that, according to Stop Evictions Mallorca, is now considered a small holder, because the owner's properties are distributed under the names of various companies and in their own name. Segura maintains that, due to its activity and the number of properties, it should be considered a large holder. The spokesperson also denounced that the property is a commercial space rented as a home, a situation that, as he states, could be sanctionable by the Department of Housing.

Criticisms of the lack of mediation

Stop Evictions Mallorca considers that the procedure should remain suspended in accordance with the 2020 royal decree and the third additional provision, which, according to the entity, conditions the resumption of the process on a prior mediation that ends with an agreement between the parties or with a residential alternative.

The organization denounces that these mediations are not being carried out nor are housing alternatives offered to the affected families. According to Segura, when it is possible to stop the eviction of a large landlord, the large landlord can choose to sell the property instead of opening a negotiation.

The entity argues that the eviction should remain suspended until 2030 and points out that the Maricarmen decree could open the door to other solutions, although it considers that it is still too early to know how it will be applied.

"Families suffer again and again"

Segura has assessed that the new decrees from the Spanish government are "among the best palliatives" of the legislature, but has warned that they do not resolve the underlying problem. He also criticized that, as he claims, the courts often do not confirm the suspension until the very last moment, which keeps families in a situation of uncertainty and distress.

"The judicial commission comes anyway, and only at the very last moment, if they see movement, do they read the documents and stop the eviction," he asserted.

The spokesperson concluded that the Maricarmen decree would not have had the same effect without the citizen mobilization and the protests that it has driven. "This is the way," he affirmed.