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.​

29/06/2021 - 15:56

An activity cycle to stand up for housing rights movements

Democratic memory. The main activities in the cycle include the installation of plaques and information panels, routes and...

28/06/2021 - 13:15

IMHAB offers 128 parking spaces on Carrer Clariana

Housing. Applications can be presented between 30 June and 16 July

23/06/2021 - 09:21

The social housing and co-housing projects of Fabra i Coats and La Borda, finalists of the Spanish Architecture and Urban Planning Biennial Awards 2021

Housing. The initiatives are two of the 70 works selected from a total of 581 proposals.

22/06/2021 - 15:02

European funding to create more housing with affordable rents

Housing. The new agreement with the European Investment Bank will provide 36.2 million euros in funding for eleven building projects,...

22/06/2021 - 09:33

You can now book an appointment with IMHAB via 010

Housing. This change aims to simplify the communication channels and improve the quality of the service

17/06/2021 - 12:28

Barcelona to host the International Social Housing Festival in 2023

Housing. The Housing Europe network brings together 43,000 public, cooperative and social housing providers from 24 EU countries.

16/06/2021 - 16:56

Open day at the Carrer Clariana car park

Housing. The car park with its 128 affordable parking spaces in the Baró de Viver neighbourhood can be visited on 28 June.

09/06/2021 - 14:49

Sant Andreu to get 135 sustainable quick-build public homes on the site of the former barracks

Housing. The two blocks will be the first to use industrialised construction techniques after the APROP homes.

Càtedra Barcelona d'Estudis d'Habitatge
03/06/2021 - 16:27

Creation of the first inter-university chair on housing

Housing. The agreement is between the public administrations and the city’s four universities.

28/05/2021 - 12:35

People living in rental homes are among those most affected by the Covid-19 crisis

Housing. International experts discussed affordable rents at the Eurocities WG Housing Meeting.