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.​

International experts to discuss the regulation of rent prices

15/04/2020 - 16:58

Conference. Representatives from New York and Berlin will explain on November 18 at a DESC Observatory conference how cities can put a stop to rising rent prices

The rise in rent prices is one of the issues that most worries housing experts. The difference between salaries and rent prices means that many people have a hard time accessing decent housing or are facing eviction.

In order to discuss possible solutions to burst this bubble, the DESC Observatory, with the support of the Barcelona City Council, will hold on Monday, November 18 a conference on the regulation of rent prices. This platform, made up of organisations and individuals, promotes economic, social and cultural rights as fundamental rights.

International experts will participate in the rent regulation conference, presenting actions being carried out to stop price escalation in cities like New York and Berlin.

More specifically, the discussion will feature two international speakers, Lucy Joffe, an expert in housing policies and regulation from New York, and Florian Schmidt, an urban activist and politician who will explain the Berlin case.

Lucy Joffe is the Deputy Commissioner for Housing Policy at the New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development. From this position, she carries out research and evaluation actions for fair housing policies and investments and develops special policies and initiatives.

For his part, the sociologist and urban project developer, urban activist and politician Florian Schmidt will share his experiences as head of urban planning for the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg neighbourhood in Berlin, as well as the “Rethinking the city” initiative, launched in 2011.

In addition, the urban planner Maria Sisternas, spokesperson of the Jaime Palomera Tenants Union, and the journalist Marina Estévez of Eldiario.es will participate in the round table. The event will be attended by the Councillor for Housing and Renovation of the Barcelona City Council, ​​Lucia Martín.

The rent regulation conference will take place next Monday, November 18, from 6 pm to 8.30 pm, at the ICAB (Barcelona Bar Association), on Carrer Mallorca 283, floor 8. Those wishing to attend can register through this form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLpoFN1d19nPPWmaY57DV9orS5bZ-deYFVvf-uue-EKFBOKQ/viewform