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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.​

Can Clos, a new urban park in Sants-Montjuïc

15/04/2022 - 10:01

Urban planning and infrastructures. Urban development work gets under way to create a large green space in the neighbourhood of Marina de Port.

Urban development work gets under way to generate a large green space with areas for people to spend time and stroll in, plus a new children’s play area in the neighbourhood of Marina de Port. The park will have a sustainable drainage system to reuse rainwater.

The project covers 24,000 square metres of space between the streets of Foc, Ferrocarrils Catalans (between Foc and Alts Forns), and between Diligències and Camí de Can Clos. The creation of the new green space will change the topography of the area and generate a pedestrian path connecting the upper part of Can Clos with the rest of the neighbourhood of La Marina, improving its integration with the mountain of Montjuïc.

The new space will include an accessible urban passage, a series of paths with steps and small shaded rest areas. The predominant vegetation will consist of bushes, avoiding blind spots to boost the sensation of safety. On the Montjuïc side there will be continuity for the pine trees and scrub, alternating with pines and almond trees to provide shade for the paths.

The area will also get urban furniture: seats and benches with back supports, bike parking, various water springs and a children’s play area of 278 square metres with swings, rotating games, climbing ropes, slides and a climbing wall.

Can Clos will also have urban services such as a fibreoptic data and telephony network, safe water, electricity and natural gas, with energy efficient lighting systems too. Four blocks of housing will also be built here at a later date.

Promoted by the Municipal Institute for Urban Planning (IMU), the project has a budget of 6.3 million euros and forms part of the Nature Plan 2030. The goals of this plan include expanding and conserving urban biodiversity. The project also corresponds to the Barcelona Superblock, the major urban transformation plan to tackle the climate emergency and build a more people-friendly and sustainable city.