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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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New by-law on first refusal to use more housing for social policies

New by-law on first refusal to use more housing for social policies

19/03/2025 - 17:13

Housing. The new regulation will allow the right to be passed on to local residents or non-profit organisations.

The Commission for Ecology, Urban Planning, Mobility and Housing has given initial approval to the new by-law regulating the right to first refusal, whereby the City Council gets priority in the purchase of buildings. The new regulation means that this right can be passed on to local residents and non-profit organisations to use housing for social policies.

Regulation of criteria and exercise of the right to first refusal

The regulations prioritise the purchase of buildings with more than ten homes, empty flats and buildings with vulnerable people, people with disabilities or located in neighbourhoods at risk of gentrification. If an acquisition is made, the maximum price may not exceed the average sale price for the neighbourhood, discounting the cost of renovation if needed.

Right of first refusal in favour of third parties

The City Council will be able to renounce the purchase of a building and pass on the right to third parties or organisations that promote public housing, people occupying the building legally or private non-profit promotors that have the goal of protected housing.

The by-law will also allow for joint acquisitions between the City Council and these beneficiaries, providing the City Council owns at least a third of the property. In the case of purchases, local residents must represent at least 60% of the homes in the building, comply with the access conditions of the register of applicants for protected housing and demonstrate financial solvency.

The by-law should also have a website with access so that organisations that benefit from it can check the buildings subject to the right of first refusal and which the City Council has no interest in.

Final approval by the Full Council

The new by-law forms part of the municipal strategy to boost the public housing stock in every way possible and use the right of first refusal in operations that add more housing in dense areas where it is difficult to build new blocks.

The by-law was initially approved by the Commission for Ecology, Urban Planning, Mobility and Housing after resolving the challenges and amendments put forward against the first draft of the text, in April 2023, with improvements now added. The by-law will need to gain final approval from the Full Council.

 

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