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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.​

Six families in Barcelona receive the keys to emergency homes

26/04/2022 - 16:22

Housing. Each month, the Housing Consortium assigns Social Rent Fund homes to families in a situation of vulnerability

Six families in a situation of vulnerability in Barcelona have received the keys to the flats where they will live from now on. These are the Emergency Board’s homes which the Barcelona Housing Consortium allocates each month to people facing economic difficulties and at risk of losing their home. This morning the Housing Councillor from Barcelona City Council, Lucía Martín, welcomed the six families and presented them with the keys to their new home.

In order to apply for an Emergency Board flat, it is necessary to be in a situation of economic and social emergency, such as being involved in an eviction process due to rent debts, mortgage foreclosure or dation in payment for mortgage debts; in a situation of housing exclusion due to gender-based violence; or where minors or elderly people live in the home in question as well as people in a situation of vulnerability in precarious hygienic, sanitary or safety conditions.

Families who find themselves in this situation and wish to apply for rehousing have to contact the service called “Habitatge et truca” (“Housing calls you”). The Housing Office will study the case and draw up a report which is essential for processing the application to be evaluated by the Emergency Board. The Board assesses these cases once a month and allocates the available homes of the Social Rent Fund. You can view the allocations in this link.

If there are more positively evaluated cases than flats available, homes from the “Empty Flats” programme will be allocated as they are gradually incorporated into the Social Rent Fund and until the following month’s Board Meeting.

You will find all the information and the regulations of the Emergency Board on the Housing Consortium of Barcelona website.