Residents of the Donostiarra neighborhood of Gros, property of the vulture fund Azora, have appeared this Tuesday before the headquarters of Inmobiliaria Vascongada to denounce the situation that is being experienced in recent years. In fact, since 2020 the vulture fund Azora purchased the properties of Vascongada, they have had many problems. This year they decided to organize with Saretxe to “deal with abuses” and pointed out that thanks to this support they have managed to solve some problems. Saretxe has pointed out that Azora aims to "continue to enrich through the revaluation of apartments and layoffs of current neighbors".

Among the main problems, the joint declaration by Saretxe and its neighbours mentions the lack of renewal of the agreement, real estate mobbing, illegal clauses and the theft of bonds. In addition, the agreements signed in the last year included a “insurance cover for the alleged non-payment of income”, which Saretxe has considered to be an “unfair term”. For this reason, he pointed out that "the first step" of the residents has been "the refusal to pay the insurance" and have been on strike for two months without paying the clause. Residents have understood that the payment of this insurance "is not their responsibility" and that "it is nothing more than a tool to guarantee the property gain rate".

The union has pointed out through social networks that neighbors and neighbors “will continue to fight until the buildings are fixed, abusive clauses are removed, the evictions of the neighbors and the elimination of the commodification of the housing”. To solve the "unsustainable" situation that the neighbors are experiencing, they have asked for a negotiation to achieve dignified conditions, with the vulture fund Azora or with the Vascongada Real Estate that manages it. “In the face of the passivity of the institutions that act for the benefit of capital, it is up to us to take a step in favor of the organization,” said the Saretxe union and the neighbors.

Threats against tenants

Tenants have indicated that they have received messages from different phone numbers, “what is intended is to desist” from the struggle they have starred and threatened, according to the union. This situation has led several residents to leave the house, according to the union. They have also denounced that Inmobiliaria Vascongada “stopped worrying about the repair that was in the building” for years.

Precedents of protests against the Azora

In June, the tenants of the Azora vulture fund protested about Donostia-San Sebastián's declaration as a tensioned municipality "as soon as possible" to stop the eviction of the four neighbors. Tenants of Azora, Aloku Benta Berri and Stop Evictions reported that “for the thousands of Basques with average and low incomes it is a social drama to get a decent and affordable housing for the “unaffordable prices” of the rentals promoted by the great owners.