The life of Ascensión Callén and fifteen residents of number 2, Calle del Nord in Lleida, changed drastically on February 19, 2025. The City Council ordered their eviction due to serious cracks detected in the building, caused by construction work on an adjacent plot.
The property owners' community had to bear the demolition costs, amounting to 390,000 euros. Although the residents have received 200,000 euros from their insurer, used for expert reports, procedures, and one year's rent, they have not yet obtained any compensation from those responsible for the construction work, whom they blame for the damage.
Callén, 73, laments that the responsible parties are not accepting liability, claiming the building was old despite her home being renovated. "They were the ones who destroyed it and filled it with cracks, ignoring our warnings, and now we have nothing, I have no home," she states.
Before taking legal action, an offer of 300,000 euros was made to all residents as compensation, a figure they consider insufficient, as the demolition alone cost more.
Currently, the case awaits a third expert valuation. According to their lawyer, the same insurance company covers both the community and the adjacent construction, and has presented two disparate valuations. The policy sets a maximum compensation of 700,000 euros, which the residents deem insufficient to cover damages, including moral ones. If they are not satisfied with this new appraisal, they will resort to legal action.
