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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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Competition resolved for the construction of 406 homes with affordable rents

Competition resolved for the construction of 406 homes with affordable rents

13/11/2025 - 14:56

Society

Housing. This is the first competition open to all sectoral operators to drive new protected housing promotions.

The leaseholds have been awarded for three municipal sites where 406 homes with affordable rents will be built in the neighbourhoods of La Marina del Prat Vermell, Diagonal Mar and El Front Marítim del Poblenou. The leaseholds should be formalised at the start of 2026, with work to begin some time in 2027. This type of competition is open to sectoral operators to start new developments with protected homes and add to the city’s stock of affordable rents.

The Commission for Economy and Tax has approved the award of sites to the winning projects in the competitions launched by the Municipal Institute of Housing and Renovation (IMHAB) in January this year. Thirteen projects were presented, including some for social organisations, private operators and public promotors. The sites were awarded as follows:

  • Carrer d’Ascó, 2-4: Joint venture Fundació Família and Benestar Social – Fundació Iniciativa Social
  • Carrer d’Ascó, 17-27: Built 4 Speed SL
  • Carrer de Llull, 355-363: Built 4 Speed SL

The leaseholds will be for a period of 75 years, with the possibility of extending them to 90, with the land always to remain municipally owned. All the developments will be entirely for affordable rental housing, with prices regulated by the general protected housing regime. The homes will be awarded by the Barcelona Housing Consortium to people on the register of applicants for officially protected housing.

The assessment process took into account various criteria relating to the quality of the projects from both an architectural and social perspective. Consideration was given to projects that strengthen support for the families who will be awarded the homes, the quality and functionality of inner and communal spaces, ventilation, natural light, the relationship with public space and the inclusion and sustainability of the buildings. Similarly, the process took into account management systems and maintenance projects to ensure the function of the properties in the long term.

The award comes within the framework of the Pla Viure, which coordinates housing policies and promotes collaboration between public, social and private operators to increase the city’s protected housing stock. Some 3,000 new homes are expected to be handed over in the current term of office, with another 5,000 at the execution stage. Land will also be generated for the construction of up to 10,000 more homes in the next few years.

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