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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 Housing and Renovation Forum will focus on regulating the market, increasing public supply and renovating

The Housing and Renovation Forum will focus on regulating the market, increasing public supply and renovating

04/03/2025 - 09:15

Housing. The fourth edition will be held on 7, 8 and 9 May at Palo Alto Barcelona, with the participation of experts and professionals from the sector, from both the public and private sectors.

Ensuring access to decent housing is one of the priorities of the local government and an urgent need for the citizens of Barcelona. To achieve this, it is important to have spaces for debate and the exchange of views that allow the main challenges of the moment to be put on the table and the best solutions to be shared in order to defend the right to housing for all. An excellent opportunity for this is the Housing and Renovation Forum (FHAR), which will be held this year on 7, 8 and 9 May in Palo Alto.

The Forum is an initiative of Barcelona City Council that brings together professionals from the public and private sectors to discuss, work on and improve the future of the right to housing. This will be the fourth edition and will address the most important issues in this field:

  • Market regulation. It will be addressed from the point of view of the different stakeholders, such as the administration, private companies and organisations defending the right to housing.
  • Increasing public and/or affordable supply. This is one of the options to improve the housing situation in the city and therefore representatives of the different levels of administration will participate, both from our country and from other territories.
  • Renovation of the public and private housing stock. Decarbonisation is one of the objectives to be achieved by improving the energy efficiency of housing. The main lines of innovation and transformation in this field will be presented at the Forum, as well as international models.

In addition to the discussion panels, workshops and visits will be organised to various housing projects in the city, both new construction and energy renovation of the public housing stock.

Registration will open soon.

The Palo Alto enclosure

Located in the Diagonal Mar i el Front Marítim del Poblenou neighbourhood, it occupies the premises of the old Gal i Puigsech textile factory, built around 1875 by the architect Antoni Vila i Bruguera.

Over the years it has had different uses and owners, and currently houses around twenty studios for professionals in architecture, photography, art and design. In addition, in a few months’ time, a centre for audiovisual and digital entrepreneurs will be inaugurated in Nave E, which will serve as a laboratory for industries in this sector.

El Pla Viure

The Barcelona City Council has launched the Pla Viure with the aim of working with and for everyone on the right to housing, with a cross-sectoral approach and with an emphasis on sustainability and well-being. This new strategic line of mandate defines the actions and services related to housing for the period 2025-2032 and has the following objectives

  • Universalise the right to housing by increasing the stock of affordable and social housing, acquiring land and involving the public and private sectors.
  • To renovate and improve housing to promote sustainability, energy efficiency, accessibility and comfort for citizens.
  • Addressing vulnerability and emergency situations and creating a system that enables action at all social levels.

More info