Residents of number 7 Tribulete Street in the Lavapiés neighborhood of Madrid have initiated a legal fight against Elix Rental Housing, an investment fund that they claim has been pressuring them to vacate their homes. They filed a collective complaint in court, which they reaffirmed in front of a judge, accusing the fund of various aggressive tactics including verbal and indirect threats, coercion, and disruptive construction works intended to make their building uninhabitable.

Since the acquisition of their building two years ago, the residents have reported a series of harassments designed to push them out. The harassment tactics reportedly include not only pressures and threats but also construction work that the residents believe is intentionally aimed at degrading their living conditions, supporting the claims of speculative motives behind the fund’s actions. The situation highlights the broader issues facing tenants in urban areas where real estate investment firms are increasingly targeting residential buildings for profit.

The court proceedings are significant as they represent more than just a local dispute; they tap into wider themes of tenant rights and gentrification in Spain, particularly in Madrid, where many residents feel threatened by rapid property market changes fostered by investment funds. The outcome of this case could have implications for similar cases in other urban areas where tenants are combatting powerful property interests.