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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.​

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The City Council gives five families the keys to flats in the Emergency Board

The City Council gives five families the keys to flats in the Emergency Board

03/01/2025 - 13:27

Housing. The Municipal Institute of Housing and Renovation of Barcelona has handed over apartments from the Social Rental Fund to families in vulnerable situations.

The Barcelona City Council, through the Municipal Institute for Housing and Renovation (IMHAB), has handed over the keys to the Emergency Board flats in the districts of Sant Martí (2 flats) and Ciutat Vella (3 flats) to five families from the city.

During the event, which took place at the IMHAB offices in Doctor Aiguader Street, the families and beneficiaries completed the outstanding procedures and received an orientation talk on the coexistence and mediation measures offered by the City Council’s Prevention, Intervention and Mediation Service for Public Housing (SPIMH).

Providing homes for those who are socially and economically vulnerable

Barcelona Housing Consortium has the houses from the Social Rental Fund, which it allocates through the Emergency Board. Before receiving a home, families have to go through a series of preliminary steps, starting with an appointment at the Barcelona Housing Office Network and a request for the Emergency Board to assess their case and prepare a report. Once all the files have been received, an analysis is carried out to allocate the available flats.

Social Rental Fund homes are intended for:

  • Residential exclusion households (such as those facing eviction due to rental debt, foreclosure, or settlement of mortgage debt).
  • Households with minors, the elderly, or people in precarious conditions of hygiene, health, or safety.

If there are more applications for housing than available housing, the Board will allocate housing as it is added to the Social Rental Fund until the next Emergency Board meeting.

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