Technology and innovation driving green transformation at the Smart City Expo

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.

Smart City. The latest edition of the urban innovation congress is coming from 5 to 7 November.

The municipal projects featured at this year’s Smart City Expo are part of the city’s journey toward urban transformation, emphasising sustainability, decarbonisation and the goal of zero emissions. The congress will take place from 5 to 7 November.

Barcelona City Council’s stand will recreate a city street, highlighting recent innovations in sustainability and decarbonisation. Key examples include BIT Habitat’s temporary shade structures, recycled pavements like those on Vía Júlia and Plaça de Catalunya and the permeable bike lane surface on Carrer de Jordi Girona. A virtual reality tour of the public housing development in C/ Ulldecona will also be possible, to see new solutions for reducing concrete and steel using the BubbleDeck system, plus a scale model of the greywater treatment plant.

Among the main attractions will be the Barcelona Fire Service’s aquatic drones, as well as a new Vigia-equipped cleaning trolley that monitors street cleaning and waste collection quality in real time. An electric Bicing bike will also be available for visitors to test out.

Global leadership in sustainability and innovation

Through initiatives under the Climate Plan, Barcelona has positioned itself as a leader amongst European cities working toward climate neutrality and minimal environmental impact. The Smart City Expo will present a range of innovative proposals contributing to this transformation and towards a zero-emission future.

Tech start-ups tackling urban challenges

Barcelona Activa will showcase a selection of tech start-ups and host the third Barcelona Deep Tech Summit, a conference merging advanced technologies from universities and research centres.