A tragedy has shaken the local community in the small town of Torremolinos (province of Málaga). In the morning, bailiffs and police knocked on the door of an 83-year-old man’s apartment—it was time to carry out the eviction order. The pensioner, who had lived there for many years, asked for a few minutes to prepare before leaving. No one expected to hear a gunshot from behind the closed door.
The elderly man, a German citizen, was found lying on the bed with a gunshot wound to the head. He was urgently taken to a hospital in Málaga, but could not be saved. The eviction was due to unpaid utility bills and legal costs—the total amount did not exceed €2,700. The apartment had been sold at auction back in 2022, but the former owner refused to vacate the property despite the change of ownership.
Neighbors noted that after his wife died this year, the man became withdrawn and did not seek help from social services. The Torremolinos municipality confirmed they had received no requests from him, although support programs for people facing difficult situations are available in the city. Authorities expressed their condolences and reminded residents about emergency assistance options—from temporary housing to rent subsidies.
This case is one of hundreds of evictions carried out in Málaga in recent months. In Torremolinos alone, there were nearly two hundred last year. Tenant organizations point out that the lack of housing market regulation and rising prices are causing such tragedies to become increasingly common. The legal proceedings in the pensioner’s case had been ongoing since 2014—when he first moved into the apartment and did not make contributions to the building maintenance fund. After the property was sold, the new owner paid the utility bills, but the former occupant continued living there without a rental contract or paying expenses.
The first attempt to evict him took place in the summer of 2023, but at that time the man refused to leave the apartment. The court did not consider him vulnerable, deciding that he had funds from the sale of the property. Social workers tried to contact him, but were unsuccessful. The second visit by court bailiffs ended in tragedy. City authorities again reminded residents of the possibility of receiving assistance if faced with the threat of losing their home.
