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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.

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Eight families receive the keys to their new flats from the Emergency Board

30/07/2025 - 14:37

Housing. Barcelona City Council, through the IMHAB, has assigned eight emergency homes located in the Ciutat Vella district to families in vulnerable situations. The allocation was made on Wednesday 30 July.

The contractors in a vulnerable situation have received this Wednesday, July 30, their new flats located in the district of Ciutat Vella. The event was attended by the Housing Commissioner, Joan Ramon Riera, who was in charge of delivering keys to the beneficiary families once the administrative tasks have been completed, the contracts signed and the relevant documentation processed.

Then, an informative session was held organized by the City Council’s Public Housing Prevention, Intervention and Mediation Service (SPIMH), which offered guidance on coexistence, community rules and mediation tools.

A process of reception and accompaniment for situations of vulnerability

The homes awarded by the Emergency Board are part of the Social Rental Fund, managed by the Barcelona Housing Consortium. This resource is intended for people and families in vulnerable situations, either due to the risk of residential exclusion due to evictions, foreclosures or deductions in payment, or because they are in contexts of social fragility, such as coexistence units with minors, the elderly or in situations of helplessness, as well as cases with serious deficiencies in hygiene, safety or living conditions.

Affected people can request attention through the Housing Offices Network of Barcelona. The Emergency Board allocates the available homes according to urgency and availability at all times.