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.​

Mobility of the future: dialogue and participation for the new roadmap

01/12/2020 - 18:47

Mobility and transport. The Urban Mobility Plan sets out over 300 measures in 60 spheres of action.

The Urban Mobility Plan sets out over 300 measures and 60 areas of action for the design of the mobility policies of the future and is the result of joint work and dialogue with thirty organisations and political groups.

The new Urban Mobility Plan 2024 gives maximum priority to the design of policies to help build a safer, smarter, healthier, more equal and sustainable city. The main goal is for 81.52% of journeys to be made on foot, on public transport or by bike by 2024.

The new proposal also sets out four challenges to achieve:

  • Guarantee the right to mobility.
  • Work towards people’s health and safety.
  • Contribute to the recovery and economic and commercial activity.
  • Combat the climate crisis and improve air quality.

Over 300 measures

To help increase journeys made using sustainable means, the Urban Mobility Plan sets out 60 spheres of action and 340 measures, the most notable being:

  • Pedestrians: increase of 32 km of pedestrianised streets, installation of moving staircases to improve accessibility and reduction of traffic in areas around schools.
  • Bus: improve the bus network with 68 km of new bus lanes, reorganise supramunicipal lines and increase zero-emissions bus routes.
  • Bicycle: increase the bike network by 40%, develop a strategic plan for secure bike parking in the city and study the addition of more electric bikes for the Bicing service.
  • Goods: study the modulation of parking times in DUM loading/unloading areas according to type of activity, promote loading and unloading at night with silent vehicles and study or promote pricing measures and/or tax relief to reduce the environmental impact of the DUM.
  • Private vehicles: implement citywide 30 km/h speed limits (except for main connecting roads), more action to address accident black spots, prioritise the use of quieter and more sustainable vehicles and achieve a municipal fleet which is 80% electric.
  • New technologies: increase vehicle-sharing services (cars, motorbikes and bikes) in the metropolitan area, include automatic control systems for traffic infringements and introduce video denouncement systems on buses to identify and fine vehicles committing traffic infringements at bus stops and in bus lanes.

Process to approve the new Urban Mobility Plan

The project for the Urban Mobility Plan 2024 has been given initial approval by the Commission for Ecology, Urban Planning, Infrastructures and Mobility. A period for challenges and proposed amendments is now under way before it is debated and definitively voted on by the Full Council.