Tanca Tanca

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.​

Call for home renovation subsidies for 2021, with more investment and priority for energy efficiency

13/10/2021 - 10:33

Housing. The forecast is that over fifteen thousand homes could benefit.

The call for 2021 increases investment from previous editions to reach 36.7 million euros, the goal being to achieve buildings and homes which are safer, more accessible and sustainable in terms of energy. The call includes different categories for the renovation of common elements in buildings and inside homes, with a special focus on the most vulnerable.

The forecast is that over fifteen thousand homes can benefit from the subsidies, with priority going to renovation projects geared towards the climate emergency, to achieve energy savings and financial savings alike through work such as insulating façades, renewing windows and installing solar panelling. This reduction can be between 10% for partial renovations and 25 and 30% for complete renovations.

The 2021 call is expected to generate 6,200 jobs and mobilise 110.91 million euros in private investment. The public investment of 36.97 million euros will be distributed in various subsidy categories:

  • Common elements
  • Highly complex properties
  • Interiors of vulnerable homes
  • Interiors of homes in the rental housing pool
  • Urban renewal in Canyelles and El Besòs i el Maresme

The call also includes specific subsidies for the most vulnerable families and communities, with programmes such as the one for highly complex properties in the Neighbourhood Plan, intended for the renovation of properties with socio-economic circumstances meaning they do not benefit from ordinary calls, and urban regeneration progammes in the Besòs area and Canyelles, which should reach 294 and 140 homes respectively.

Subsidies for highly complex properties can cover 75% of the overall investment and benefit some 180 homes, while subsidies for people on low incomes to carry out work on kitchens, bathrooms and improved accessibility could reach some 480 homes.

Requisites for increasing the rental housing stock

In the case of empty homes and vertical properties, subsidies will be conditioned by the inclusion of the flat in the city’s Affordable Rental Housing Pool for five years. If there are tourist flats in the property, the owners will not be able to benefit from the subsidy.

The budgetary item for this call has also been increased to improve the habitability of homes added to the Rental Housing Pool, with subsidies of up to 20,000 euros.

Full details on each of the subsidy categories for renovations can be found on the website for the Municipal Institute of Housing and Renovation.