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.​

Status: AVAILABLE until 29/10/2021
 
Recipients: People who are up-to-date with their rent but have difficulties in paying it, and who have been beneficiaries of municipal aid in 2020.
 
Family income limit:
Between 2 and 3 times the IRSC*, depending on the group
 
Maximum monthly rent: 970 €
 
Administration granting the aid: Housing Consortium of Barcelona

Details of the aid

A tool that helps prevent the loss of housing

Renting has become the most common way to access housing in the city. For this reason, aid for the payment of rent is a basic tool to prevent the loss of housing and social exclusion.

This aid is intended to help people with financial difficulties to pay their rent. It is aimed at people living in Barcelona, ​​who hold a rental contract for a home that is their habitual residence, and who have low or moderate income.

What do you need to know to request this aid?

In the following sections, you will find the requirements and the necessary steps to request this aid. The application can be presented at any Housing Office of Barcelona.

Beneficiaries

The following economic benefits are available:
 

  • Aid for the payment of rent in the city of Barcelona corresponding to the 2020 call for applicants.
  • Emergency aid derived from mediation in the city of Barcelona for the year 2020.

 
The beneficiaries must hold a rental contract for the home that is their habitual and permanent residence. For rental contracts with effect from June 1, 2013, it is required to prove that the tenant has fulfilled the obligation of paying a deposit to the landlord.

Eligibility requirements

The beneficiaries must meet the following requirements:
 

  • Proof of legal residence in Catalonia for five years, two of which must be immediately prior to the filing date of the application, except for returned Catalans who meet the requirements established in article 6 of Law 25/2002, of November 25, on measures to support the return of Catalans.
  • The home that is object of the rental contract must be located in Barcelona and must constitute the habitual and permanent residence of the applicant, and must be listed as his or her domicile in the corresponding municipal register.
  • Be registered at the home for which the aid is requested.
  • Be at risk of residential social exclusion in accordance with article 72 of Law 18/2007, of December 28, on the right to housing. More information about income limits is provided in the table.
  • More than 30% of the household income must be allocated to the payment of rent.
  • Proof of adequate conditions to be able to continue paying the rent. This requirement is considered to be met when the amount of aid granted and the monthly household income total an amount equal to or greater than the amount of the rent.
  • Monthly rent for the home cannot exceed 970€.
  • Collection of the benefit must be set up through a financial institution.
  • Rent payments for the home must be made by bank transfer or direct debit from a bank account held by the applicant, by direct deposit, or with a receipt issued by the building administrator, at least from the month following the filing date of the application.
  • No member of the household may own another home, unless it is deemed unsuitable for use and enjoyment.
  • No member of the household may be related by marriage or other similar stable relationship, by consanguinity, adoption or affinity up to the second degree, with the landlords.
  • The household cannot save a taxable income in excess of 500 euros, based on income tax declarations (IRPF). Exception from this prohibition is granted if this amount corresponds to a dation in payment as a result of a foreclosure on a home that has constituted the habitual and permanent residence of the applicant.
  • Tenants of homes owned or managed by the Housing Agency of Catalonia or by the Municipal Institute of Housing and Renovation of Barcelona, as well as housing subsidised by public programmes, are not eligible for this aid.

Documentation

Documentation for all cases:

  • Identification document (DNI / NIF / NIE or valid equivalent document) of the applicant.
  • Certificate of cohabitation that proves habitual residence in the home of all members of the household.
  • Legal residence in Catalonia, which must be accredited for five years, and two of which must be immediately prior to the date of application. Applicants whose NIE does not include the "permanent" or "long term" specification must provide a residence certificate issued by the foreigners' office or by the national police, along with certificates from the different municipal registers.
  • Proof of income:
    • Personal income tax declaration (IRPF) corresponding to the last closed fiscal year of the applicant and of each member of the household that is of working age. In case of exemption, a certificate of income tax allocations from the State Agency of the Tax Administration (AEAT) must be provided.
    • Exceptionally, in the case of significant changes resulting in an increase or decrease in income, documentation must be submitted to prove the income of the last three months of the person(s) that suffered the change, together with a working life report issued by the general treasury of Social Security. This report must be requested via the Social Security website or by telephone 901 502 050.
  • Rental receipt from the month in which the application is submitted and from the previous month.

 

Additional documentation in case of changes with respect to data corresponding to the previous year's calls for aid for the payment of rent or emergency aid derived from mediation in the city of Barcelona:

  • Identification document (DNI / NIF / NIE or valid equivalent document) of all adult members of the household. If any member of the household does not have a DNI / NIF / NIE, they must provide a valid equivalent.
  • Authorisation by all members of the household that are of working age so that the bodies managing the requests for aid can obtain data necessary for the processing and follow-up of the request by other public bodies.
  • Family register book, if applicable.
  • Rental contract in the name of the applicant. For rental contracts with effect from 1 June 2013, it is necessary to prove fulfillment of the tenant obligation to pay a deposit to the landlord.
  • Standardised bank data form (CAT) in the name of the applicant, with the bank details of the account into which the aid must be deposited, stamped by the financial institution.

 

Obtaining data electronically:

When the applicant and the members of the household authorise the managing body to obtain the data necessary for the processing and assessment of the applications, it is not required to submit the following:

  • Certificate of cohabitation that verifies residence in the home of all members of the household.
  • The identification document (DNI or equivalent) of the applicant and all members of the household.
  • The personal income tax declaration (IRPF) of the applicant and all members of the household that are of working age.
  • Certificate of income received, in the case of unemployed people and pensioners.
  • Certificate of degree of disability, if applicable.
  • Single parent or large family card, if applicable.

 

The Housing Consortium of Barcelona can request, directly or through the entities collaborating in the management of this aid, additional documentation deemed necessary for the resolution of each case.

Amount and application period

The amount is determined according to each case, but ranges from a maximum of €300 per month (€3,600 / year) and a minimum of €20 per month (€240 / year).

Exceptionally, in duly accredited cases of risk of residential exclusion and provided there is a favourable report issued by municipal social services, the maximum amount of the benefit may be increased.
 
This aid can be granted for a maximum period of twelve months.

 

Application period

The call to request this aid is currently available and it ends on October 29, 2021.

Incompatibilities

This aid is temporary and is incompatible, for the same monthly payments of the current year, with other aid, benefits or subventions that fulfil the same purpose. In the case of duplication of aid for the same monthly payments, a partial or total revocation will be made in accordance with the duplicity that has been committed.

Additional information

The payment of the aid is conditioned by the budgetary availability established in the call, and by the knowledge of the Housing Consortium of Barcelona that the beneficiary is up-to-date with rental payments.
 
Given that this aid is a public subsidy and involves capital income, the beneficiary must present their personal income tax declaration (IRPF), which must include the amount received.
 
Payment of the aid must be made through a financial institution.
 
The aid can be paid directly to the beneficiary or, if it is expressly authorised, to the person who provides a guardianship or mediation service, in favour of which this right is granted.