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.​

Everything you need to know about the Rental Price Regulation Law

08/02/2021 - 11:59

Housing. Law 11/2020 aims to prevent the abusive increases that have occurred over the last few years. We explain what this law comprises, step by step.

At the end of 2020 the Parliament of Catalonia approved the Rental Price Regulation Law 11/2020, a law that reached the Parliament at the proposal of the Union of Tenants (Sindicat de Llogateres) with the support of 4,000 social and cultural entities and the votes in favour of JxCat, ERC, Catalunya en Comú and the CUP. The legislation includes measures to prevent the abusive increases in rental prices in the country and to establish maximums. Specifically, the law enables rental prices to be frozen and reduced in 61 Catalan municipalities where the market is considered to be under pressure, reduce prices that are above the reference index, and set minor and major infractions if the owner does not comply with the law.

Which municipalities does this law apply to? How do I calculate the maximum price for my contract? Which contracts are subject to the law? These are some of the questions included in the Practical Guide to the Rental Price Regulation Law. The guide explains what the law comprises of and is structured in ten points to give clear and understandable answers to possible questions that people may have when their rental price has increased, the duration of the contract has been extended with new terms and conditions or they have to assume other costs beyond those of the rental price of the contract, among others.