Court Halts Eviction of Vulnerable Cancer Patient in Guaza

A court has halted the eviction of a 70-year-old cancer patient in Guaza, highlighting the difficult balance between property rights and the need to protect vulnerable citizens. As reported by Diario de Avisos, the judge delayed the process after reviewing evidence of the resident's fragile health.

The court has now opened a separate case to formally assess the man’s vulnerability, a step that pauses the eviction while officials determine if he qualifies for special legal protections. The case is legally complex because, although the building is officially classified as industrial space, the court acknowledged it has served as the man’s primary home for the past eight years, meaning it must be treated under residential leasing laws.

This situation underscores a gap in the local housing support system. While the Arona City Council has been monitoring the case since last spring and confirmed the man’s precarious health—he relies on a minimum income and is awaiting prostate cancer surgery—he still has no alternative place to live.

Local authorities have noted that the current property does not meet the health standards required for someone in his condition. Officials from the Arona City Council and the Tenerife Island Council are now working to find emergency housing, such as a convalescent facility or a socio-sanitary center. The court’s decision, issued just 24 hours before the scheduled eviction, provides a vital window for these agencies to find a solution that ensures the patient’s dignity before the legal process resumes.