Marisa Martín Blázquez, one of the most recognizable faces in Spanish television journalism, recently found herself in the spotlight not because of another breaking story, but due to her own deeply unpleasant ordeal. During a live broadcast of a popular program, she opened up about her nearly two-year struggle with so-called ‘inquiokupación’—a situation where tenants stop paying rent but continue to live in the apartment. Her personal drama has shed light on a problem faced by thousands of property owners across the country.
It all began quite smoothly in 2023, when the journalist rented out her property in the prestigious suburb of Madrid, Torrelodones. The first few months gave no warning of trouble, but by the end of the year, the payments stopped. Efforts to reach an agreement led nowhere. One of the last exchanges with the tenant, which she recalled bitterly, ended with a cynical ‘Happy New Year’ in response to her request to settle the debt. Since then, the debt has soared to an impressive €21,000, and according to Marisa, that’s not the limit, as rental prices in the area have risen significantly in recent years.
After hitting a brick wall, Martin Blasques turned to the courts, only to be met with further disappointment. The initial eviction lawsuit was dismissed due to a technicality. “We had to resubmit it, highlighting the key points in bold as if for the mentally handicapped,” she said indignantly. The court admitted its error, but this only meant the entire painful process had to start over from scratch. Time passed, but the case stalled, leaving the owner in a state of complete legal uncertainty.
The situation took an unexpected turn after the journalist decided to share her ordeal nationwide on Ana Rosa Quintana’s program. Just hours after her public appearance—following months of silence—she received a message from the tenants proposing to meet and ‘talk.’ Marisa’s response was firm and clear: she was only willing to enter into dialogue if they brought the full amount owed to the meeting. Otherwise, in her view, there was nothing to discuss.
This story is not just an isolated incident. It has triggered yet another wave of debate about the shortcomings of Spanish rental laws and the vulnerability of property owners. “I continue to pay all taxes, utility bills… Maintaining this property costs me a significant amount, while I’m left in limbo because the court still hasn’t even considered my renewed lawsuit,” she concluded. The account of the well-known TV host became the voice of many Spaniards caught in a similar ‘hell,’ as Marisa herself described it, and stuck in the labyrinth of bureaucracy.
