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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.

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.​

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Barcelona, the protagonist of the CIDEU study on the right to housing in Ibero-America

Barcelona, the protagonist of the CIDEU study on the right to housing in Ibero-America

26/05/2023 - 14:27

Housing. With the support of the Barcelona City Council, the Ibero-American Center for Urban Strategic Development (CIDEU) presents a showcase of best practices in local policies driven by cities like Barcelona, Buenos Aires and Bogotá.

Access to housing as a fundamental human right for a dignified life, and the available tools for local administrations to guarantee it, are the focus of the study ‘Guarantee the Right to Housing in Ibero-America: The role of Local Governments’. This publication is produced by the ‘Micro Network for the Right to Housing’, promoted by the Ibero-American Center for Urban Strategic Development (CIDEU) with the support of the Barcelona City Council.

The new publication was presented on Wednesday, April 26th, through a virtual session, highlighting some of the best practices carried out in relevant cities in Ibero-America, including capital cities such as Bogotá (Bolivia), Antioquia (Colombia), Montevideo (Uruguay), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Santiago (Chile), Los Cabos (Mexico), and Barcelona.

Throughout the publication, measures and tools implemented in the field of housing in the mentioned cities are analyzed from different perspectives, in a joint effort to find solutions that help transform access to such a valuable asset as housing.

Among other cases, the focus is placed on the promotion and management of public rental housing in Bogotá and Barcelona, as well as urban and housing policies for the creation of inclusive and sustainable neighborhoods in Antioquia, self-promotion and collective management of housing in Montevideo and Buenos Aires, and governance in housing policies in Santiago de Chile and Los Cabos.

In the case of Barcelona, the study provides an overview of four key issues that shape the housing policies implemented in the city since 2015, while also reflecting on how to promote and manage municipal housing assets.

Ultimately, this represents a new contribution by CIDEU, an organization composed of 122 cities and 28 collaborating entities that work together to improve the lives of over 120 million people. They support Ibero-American local governments in applying the culture of strategic urban thinking to achieve more sustainable and inclusive cities.

More info