The Poble-sec property has become a new symbol of the housing struggle, earning the nickname “new Casa Orsola” for its resistance against vulture funds. The building was acquired by the real estate company Urbe Enginova in early 2025 with the intention of renovating and revaluing it, immediately sending burofax notices to tenants informing them that their contracts would not be renewed.
The collective complaint, filed last November, has been admitted for processing by the Jutjat d’Instrucció 32 de Barcelona. This action follows the precedent set by residents in Lavapiés, Madrid, who were the first to successfully indict a vulture fund under this criminal category. The mobilization of the Poble-sec tenants began on September 17 with the goal of preventing the thirteen families, including five with social rental contracts, from being forced out of their homes.
The trigger for the complaint was the breakdown of the building's elevator on October 6. According to the affected residents, the property took 39 days to initiate the repair, despite the maintenance company having sent a 2,000 euro quote two days after the incident. This lack of response severely impacted the mobility of elderly and disabled residents, forcing them to cancel medical appointments and vaccinations.
All of this is part of a deliberate strategy by the real estate company Urbe Enginova to force tenants out, supported by the burofax notices already sent and the hiring of a company linked to 'desokupaciones' (evictions) to pressure and intimidate the neighbors.
The lawsuit also points to the property's “lack of responsibility regarding the maintenance of the building,” including the abandonment of legal duties such as cleaning and responding to residents' emails. Medical reports confirming the health problems resulting from the lack of elevator access have been included as evidence in the complaint.
