A pedestrian avenue at the former barracks in Sant Andreu

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.

Urban planning. The Rambla de Marta Mata connects streets and facilities in the neighbourhood.

The new Rambla de Marta Mata is a continuation of the Parc d’Antoni Santiburcio, connecting different streets and facilities in the neighbourhood of Sant Andreu. The avenue offers a space of over 12,000 square metres for people to stroll, socialise and spend time in, with over 2,700 square metres of green areas.

Located in the north of the neighbourhood of Sant Andreu, where the former barracks stood, the Rambla de Marta Mata is a continuation of the Parc d’Antoni Santiburcio, connecting Pg. Santa Coloma and C/ Palomar, and in perpendicular, Pg. Torres i Bages and C/ Fernando Pessoa.

The avenue offers local people a large area to walk and socialise in, with 12,450 square metres of space. Various modifications have been made to ramps, steps and paving to make the area more accessible. The street features 2,700 square metres of green spaces, a play area for children under five, urban furniture, LED lighting and two springs with drinking water.

The revamp to the area where the barracks stood moves forward with this new avenue and the construction of 152 homes for the elderly and the Jaume Oller youth centre. Housing with social rents for young people is also due to be built here, along with a nursery school.

Homage to the educator and co-founder of Rosa Sensat, Marta Mata

The new Rambla de Sant Andreu bears the name of one of the leading figures in recent Catalan education, the educator Marta Mata. Co-founder of the teachers’ association Rosa Sensat, Mata combined her work as an educator and teacher trainer with political activism, as a parliamentarian and senator in the Spanish parliament, the Chair of the National School Council and, later, between 1987 and 1990, as the Councillor for Education with Barcelona City Council.