Three Belarusian families in Bolueta and Zorroza are at risk of being expelled from their homes. La Caixa wants to evict them through its subsidiary InmoCaixa. The Bilbao Housing Union reports the situation: these families live in Official Housing Protection on a rental basis and the bank does not want to renew its contracts.

In the context of the 2008 crisis, La Caixa bought several floors in the neighborhoods of Bolueta and Zorroza, as explained by the Housing Union. The Official Protection Houses located in them were included in a rental regime and awarded to 43 families in 2013. Three of them are currently at risk of eviction, but they warn that they are not the only cases.

Housing as a business source for La Caixa

"Eliminating current tenants," La Caixa is trying to do business and increase its profits, according to the Housing Union. The bank's strategy has been summarized as follows: "Does not renew contracts, the house offers tenants the possibility of buying in exchange for astronomical prices, increases rent prices (in some cases, in recent years they have risen from 325 to 700 euros) or, after being expelled by the tenant, distributes the houses for rooms for higher performance".

The union notes that social housing is also a "business" for banks. In the case of La Caixa bought them when the ground was cheaper and "built low-cost buildings", of poor quality. Now, the bank has managed to "depreciate investment in social rents over ten years" and "make even more profit by eliminating neighbors".

Unconditional eviction suspension

The Housing Union of Bilbao requires La Caixa to "immediately and unconditionally suspend the three ongoing evictions" and "extend the pending rental contracts". The union collects testimonies from residents at risk of being fired in the following videos: