Tanca Tanca

Housing Glossary

You will find information here on all topics relating to housing in Barcelona

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Accrued interest

The interest applied as a penalisation when the debtor does not comply with repayment obligations. The amount must be established in the contract.

Active supermortgage

This allows the client to choose their loan's benchmark index (MIBOR at three months, six months or a year) so that payment can benefit from lower interest rates sooner.

Adaptable instalment

Characteristic of UCI superloans that allow the borrower to not pay one instalment a year for the first three years if there are problems due to holidays, extraordinary expenses, etc.

Advanced cancellation fee

A commission arising from the financial risk involved in the advanced cancellation of an operation. The applied commission compensates the financial institution for its financial losses.

AEDE

Direct state aid for paying the deposit on a property.

Affordable housing

Group of social housing or dwellings from social renovation projects that are sold or rented at below-market prices.

Affordable rent

The cost of renting these dwellings is below market prices after being included in operations concerning the rented flat pool, social renovation or social housing promotions.

Amortisation

Payment made to repay a loan.

Amortisation period

The duration of the loan. The contract establishes the date of the first and last payments. The longer the period, the lower the payments are, but the higher the interest. You therefore pay more in the end. The monthly instalment should not exceed 35% of your net income.

API

Estate agent. A qualified professional who acts as an intermediary between the two interested parties to facilitate the signing of a real estate contract, which can be a rental agreement, a sales agreement or another similar contract. They usually charge a percentage of the sales price as compensation or commission.

Applicant

A citizen who makes a registration application to the Barcelona Social Housing Applicants Registry, and who represents the other members of the dwelling unit included in the application.

APR

Annual Equivalent Rate. Effective annual cost of the mortgage in terms of interest, commissions and the repayment period. To compare loans, it is not enough to just look at the lowest APR, you also have to compare the conditions, the repayment period and the distribution of instalment payments.

Arbitri municipal de plusvàlua

Former denomination of the capital gains tax on landed property.

Assessment

The value of a dwelling certified by a specialised assessment company, in accordance with the mortgage market law. This certificate not only indicates the real value of the property, it also serves as a reference for obtaining the necessary financing.

Authorisation

Document in which the owner authorises the tenant to carry out building work in the dwelling's interior.

Close glossary

Housing offices only offer face-to-face assistance by prior appointment, so check out the “Housing calls you” service here to receive the most appropriate personalised assistance. If you also need assistance in energy rights, book an appointment with an energy-advice point (PAE) by clicking here. On the other hand, if you reside in an IMHAB public dwelling you can consult our contact, management and processing channels here.​

19/01/2022 - 12:29

Building gets under way on the second APROP provisional local housing block

Housing. The block of 42 homes will help address the emergency housing needs of over a hundred vulnerable people.

17/01/2022 - 12:30

Forty-seven families from the low-budget houses in Bon Pastor rehoused

Housing. The coming weeks should see the completion of the process to rehouse the final 44 families.

14/01/2022 - 16:06

The public housing stock is enlarged with 64 new subsidised homes in the Sant Martí district

Housing. This promotion is the result of a swap between the private developer Corpedificacions and the Barcelona City Council. It is...

30/12/2021 - 12:32

Record growth in the public housing stock in 2021

Housing. This year saw the City Council purchase 13 whole buildings and some individual flats, between them adding an overall total...

16/12/2021 - 11:50

Over 60% of property agents accept ethnic discrimination when renting out homes

Inclusion. The figure is revealed by a study based on 350 calls by people posing as fictitious property owners.

16/12/2021 - 09:11

The FHAR explores the collaboration between private, public and community actors in the enlargement of the affordable housing stock

Housing. More than thirty national and international experts shared strategies for universalising access to affordable housing beyond...

13/12/2021 - 14:59

A new impulse in the alliance between the Barcelona City Council and the non-profit housing sector

Housing. Two new plots and a building of 203 homes are incorporated into the agreement signed with GHS, Cohabitac, the XES and...

10/12/2021 - 14:25

The CO-HAB-Raval project receives 80,000 euros to improve the habitability of five properties in El Raval

Housing. The proposal is aimed at improving the living conditions of local residents in the Raval neighbourhood.

25/11/2021 - 14:01

“It’s a brutal challenge but we can’t each concentrate solely on our own patch”

Housing. Vanesa Valiño, Laia Forné, Manel Rodríguez and Glòria Rubio reflected on the initiatives of public-community collaboration...

25/11/2021 - 13:55

Enlarging the affordable housing stock, a responsibility shared between the public and private sectors

Housing. Javier Burón, Anna Gener, Borja García-Egotxeaga and Laia Forné analysed the role of public-private collaboration in the...