A Madrid property firm says it will file a criminal complaint after receiving death threats and a box of live cockroaches. The campaign erupted following the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen, with Urbagestión blaming a tenants’ union for coordinated harassment.
Last Friday, a box labeled "live animals" landed at Urbagestión’s Madrid office. Staff opened it and found a plastic container full of cockroaches. The message was clear. This came just days after the company’s phones rang nonstop with threats. Employees were told to stay home for their own safety.
Urbagestión owns the apartment where María del Carmen Abascal—known as Maricarmen—lived. Now, the company says it will go to court. Management claims a campaign of harassment, intimidation, and death threats is underway. Ricardo Alonso, the director, blames the Sindicato de Inquilinas. He says the tenants’ union is behind the pressure, trying to force a new deal for Maricarmen after her eviction became public.
According to Telemadrid and EFE, Urbagestión claims that after Maricarmen's eviction, the company received not only threats but also experienced cyberattacks and publication of personal data of its management as part of the pressure campaign.
The trouble started on September 23. News of Maricarmen’s eviction broke, and Urbagestión’s office lines were soon overwhelmed. According to the company, abusive calls poured in. ABC reports that voicemails included direct threats and insults. Things got so bad that management unplugged the phones and told everyone to leave the office.
The pressure didn’t stop there. On social media, people shared personal details and photos of Urbagestión’s leaders. Posts called for crowds to gather outside the company’s headquarters. Employees saw people waiting near the building. Management told staff to stay away completely.
Threatening emails followed. Some messages were blunt: "We’ll come up to the fifth floor and shoot you twice." Others warned of "surprises arrive in the form of a car bomb." The cockroach box, traced to an online reptile supply shop, took things further. At the same time, Urbagestión noticed hacking attempts on employee emails. There were also cases of identity theft aimed at stealing financial data.
El País and 20minutos report that the Sindicato de Inquilinas organized mass mobilizations in 40 cities, including a tent protest at Madrid's Puerta del Sol, following Maricarmen's eviction. The union also presented a package of anti-eviction measures called the 'decreto Maricarmen,' which they say marks a turning point in Spain's housing struggle.
The fallout hit fast. Urbagestión says it has already lost clients. Some employees have taken leave because of stress and fear. Ricardo Alonso says the damage is real. It’s not just about reputation. The business is losing money.
With pressure mounting, Urbagestión turned to Madrid’s municipal housing authority, the Empresa Municipal de la Vivienda y Suelo. They asked for help. After five hours of talks on September 28, everyone agreed: Maricarmen’s lease would be extended for eight years. Her rent would be capped at 30% of her income. That’s better than the original deal, which allowed a seven-year extension and up to 40% of her income. Alonso says the tenants’ union campaign forced this outcome. He calls their tactics "like a militia."
This isn’t the first time public pressure and direct action have shaped Madrid’s eviction battles. Recent cases, including those with celebrity protestors, have drawn attention to the fight between landlords and organized tenant groups. The details change, but the conflict keeps growing.
The Urbagestión case stands out for its intensity. The harassment went beyond protest. It crossed into criminal threats. The company says it was forced to negotiate under pressure. Tenant advocacy is a real response to Madrid’s housing crisis. But these methods risk damaging the movement’s credibility and dragging everyone into legal trouble. Maricarmen’s eviction shows how fast a housing dispute can turn ugly. The costs are real—for businesses, workers, and the city itself.
