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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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Barcelona City Council and GHS visit the new public housing development for young people in Casernes de Sant Andreu

Barcelona City Council and GHS visit the new public housing development for young people in Casernes de Sant Andreu

05/03/2025 - 09:26

Housing. Industrialised construction and sustainability criteria characterise this building, the third to be built in Barcelona with public housing exclusively for people under 35.

Representatives from the Association of Social Housing Managers of Catalonia (GHS) made a technical visit to building J of the Casernes de Sant Andreu development to see first-hand the details of this new block of industrialised public housing, which includes 56 flats for young people and a crèche.

This is the third public housing development exclusively for people under 35 and is located in the block formed by Fernando Pessoa, Manuel Muñoz and Teresa Boronat streets and Passeig de Marta Mata in Sant Andreu. The 56 flats are distributed over four floors (14 flats on each floor) and around three courtyards, which allows for cross-ventilation and improved energy efficiency.

On the ground floor there will be space for bicycles, waste management and technical facilities. There will also be a new nursery, which will help to increase the number of public places in the neighbourhood.

The roof will be used as a community space and will have solar panels and air conditioning systems.

Barcelona’s commitment to industrialised construction

The main feature of this building is the choice of the industrialised construction system, with the projects and works method. In this type of construction, architects and builders work side by side from the start of the project to optimise results and reduce construction time. It also involves the use of more sustainable materials, as in the case of this building, which uses laminated wood structures.

The Municipal Institute of Housing and Renovation of Barcelona (IMHAB) is committed to the industrialisation of social housing in order to promote the growth of the city’s social housing stock.

More info