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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 signs new surface right to build social housing in Sants-Montjuïc

Barcelona City Council signs new surface right to build social housing in Sants-Montjuïc

21/02/2024 - 14:18

Housing. The neighbourhood of La Font de la Guatlla will have more social housing thanks to the granting of this surface right to Cooperativa La Xarxaire, which will be responsible for the construction of the building.

In June 2022, the Barcelona City Council approved the inclusion of the municipal land located in Carrer del Gessamí, 11-13, in the ESAL agreement and launched a competition for cooperatives to build a cooperative building for shared use (or co-housing).

This Tuesday, 20 February, the Barcelona City Council, through the Municipal Institute for Housing and Renovation (IMHAB), signed the surface right to allow the construction of this block of flats in the Font de la Guatlla neighbourhood.

Cooperativa La Xarxaire will be responsible for the construction and management of this set of apartments, which will be rented out under official protection. The duration of the surface right will be 99 years from the signing of the contract.

According to the signed document, Cooperativa La Xarxaire undertakes to carry out the works within a maximum period of two years from the date of obtaining the building permit.

Development of the ESAL Agreement

The project in Carrer del Gessamí is part of the ESAL agreement, signed in 2020 by the Barcelona City Council and the main associations of cooperatives and social housing foundations. This agreement aims to be a pioneering mechanism of cooperation with the third sector, through the allocation of public land to non-profit organisations and the transfer of the land.

This makes it possible to promote the construction and renovation of public housing for rent and the transfer of the right of use (co-housing) through the creation of surface rights. It is a tool that promotes the growth of the public housing stock while diversifying the range of actors involved.

The ESAL agreement is an alliance between the Barcelona City Council and the Federació de Cooperatives d’Habitatges de Catalunya (FCHC), the Coordinadora de Fundacions d’Habitatge Social (Cohabitac), the Associació Xarxa d’Economia Solidària (XES) and the Associació de Gestors de Polítiques Socials d’Habitatge de Catalunya (GHS).

The projects submitted must comply with the following criteria:

  • Speed and industrialisation of processing and construction or renovation of housing.
  • Technical and economic capacity to guarantee execution of the work.
  • Protected rental prices and right of use fees.
  • Avoidance of projects all being given to a few developers.
  • Climate emergency criteria.
  • Fostering of community ties.

If you want to extend this information, you can visit the Accessible housing with social developers and cooperatives website.

Related links

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