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.​

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  4. 'Housing that makes a city' conference

'Housing that makes a city' conference

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    • ->El Regidor d´Habitatge, Josep Maria Muntaner, durant la seva intervenció
    • El Regidor d´Habitatge, Josep Maria Muntaner, durant la seva intervenció
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    • The new challenges to housing

    The 'Housing that makes a city' conference dealt with such issues as affordable housing and the various approaches to enabling the respective maintenance and generation of existing and new housing stock, while ensuring residents keep their homes and are protected from eviction.

    More specifically, there were discussions on renovation, the mechanisms for tackling gentrification, the challenges for bringing about affordable rents and new housing models.

    Highlights

    Related links

    More information

    Morning talks

    Block 1: Renovation for social transformation

    Challenges of a municipal renovation policy that improves housing
    Jordi Amela, Director of Renovation at the Barcelona Housing Consortium

    Housing Renovation Programme with a Social Purpose
    Jordi Cuyàs, Strategic Projects Coordinator at Vilafranca del Penedès City Council

    Housing renovation through urban planning tools
    Núria Parlón, Mayor of Santa Coloma de Gramenet

    Activating empty housing through renovation
    Helen Williams, Director of Empty Homes National Campaigning Charity, London

    Watch the whole conference

    Block 2: Mechanisms for tackling gentrification

    The transformation of residential use and replacement of the population with new collectives
    David Bravo, Consultant Architect at Barcelona City Council

    International experiences of regulating tourist accommodation in the cities
    Antonio Paolo Russo, University of Rovira i Virgili

    Anti-gentrification policies in Berlin
    Andrej Holm, urban sociologist and former Secretary of State for Housing in Berlin

    Population replacement and renovation processes
    Antonio López Gay, researcher at the Centre for Democratic Studies

    Watch the whole conference

    Afternoon talks

    Block 3: Challenges of creating affordable rented housing

    Challenges of having a stock of affordable housing
    Javier Buron, General Manager for Housing at Barcelona City Council

    The experiences of affordable housing associations
    Jeroen Van Der Veer, Amsterdam Federation of Housing Associations

    Generating a stock of affordable housing by reclaiming empty homes
    Patricia Val, Managing Director of the Basque Government's public rental company Alokabide

    Tenants’ unions: a mechanism for safeguarding rights
    Barbara Steenbergen, International Union of Tenants

    Watch the whole conference

    Block 4: Collection promotions and new housing models

    The challenges to generating a new housing access model in the city
    Vanesa Valiño, Cabinet Chief of the Councillor's Office for Housing at Barcelona City Council

    Collective strategies for bringing empty homes back into use through collective projects in Europe
    Eva Morales, architect

    Elderly cohousing, a new housing model with services
    Paloma Rodríguez and Victoria Lerroux, Trabensol-Social Community Centre for Elderly People

    An alternative view of housing construction
    Anupama Kundoo, architect

    Watch the whole conference

    Experts' opinion

    Gentrification in Barcelona

    Antonio López Gay

    Centre for Demographic Studies

    Housing associations

    Javier Buron, General Manager for Housing at Barcelona City Council

    Jeroen Van Der Veer, Amsterdam Federation of Housing Associations