Colau: “Using law 24/2015 we've stopped 639 evictions and we’re not backing down”

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.

Municipal. City Council is working with the those behind the emergency housing law to guarantee the right to housing following the challenge made by central government.

The Mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, met the promotors of the law on the housing emergency and energy poverty to guarantee the right to housing, following the challenge to part of the law by central government, lodged with the Constitutional Court. Thanks to City Council’s law 24/2015, some 639 evictions have been halted since January, the use of over 400 homes from banks is being secured, social rents have been established for 104 families evicted by large-scale property owners and other goals have been achieved.

According to Colau, work will continue on jointly guarantee the right to housing: “A state law is needed for dignified housing for everyone, and to prevent property booms”. Colau pointed out that thanks to the law, which “the PP government” has challenged via its appeal to the Constitutional Court, City Council has been able to tackle the housing emergency by setting up the unit for the prevention of residential exclusion to avoid evictions and provide support for vulnerable families.

Colau stated that support from the Generalitat is needed to help municipal councils counter evictions and infringements by large-scale property owners, and that, despite the challenge by central government: “I can’t contemplate backing down in guaranteeing the right to housing. This should help us take a step forward”.

Apart from the Mayor, yesterday’s meeting was also attended by Carlos Macías (PAH), Irene Escorihuela (DESC) and María Campuzano (APE), as well as the Deputy Mayor for Social Rights, Laia Ortiz, and the Councillor for Housing, Josep Maria Montaner.

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