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.​

  1. Home
  2. Latest news
  3. Construction begins on three cohousing developments in Poblenou and La Bordeta

Construction begins on three cohousing developments in Poblenou and La Bordeta

Construction begins on three cohousing developments in Poblenou and La Bordeta

10/09/2024 - 09:39

Housing. The cooperatives Abril Poblenou, Sotrac and Empriu are going to build 96 housing units under a use-rights model on three plots of land granted by the Barcelona City Council. Ground was broken on 6 and 7 September to mark the start of construction.

The Municipal Institute of Housing and Renovation of Barcelona (IMHAB) continues to support the cohousing model with a new development in the Sant Martí district and two more in the Sants-Montjuïc district. Specifically, these are three buildings promoted by the cooperatives Abril Poblenou, Sotrac and Empriu, which will provide almost one hundred affordable homes.

On the 6th and 7th of September, the inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of Joan Ramon Riera, the Housing Commissioner of the Barcelona City Council, as well as representatives of the districts, IMHAB and the developers.

About the new cohousing developments

The Abril cooperative housing will be built on a municipal plot of land – granted by the City Council for a period of 99 years through the ESAL Agreement – located at 115 Pere IV Street (el Parc i la Llacuna del Poblenou). It will consist of 18 dwellings, one of which will be designated as social housing for young people formerly under guardianship.

On the other hand, Sotrac won a municipal competition in 2020 for the plot at 43 Constitució Street, for a period of 75 years (plus 15 renewable years). This building, located in La Bordeta, will have 38 housing units, designed according to universal accessibility criteria and a gender perspective, while the ground floor will be reserved for community use and open to the neighbourhood.

Empriu will be built at 17-21 Mossèn Amadeu Oller Street (also in La Bordeta) and will consist of 40 housing units, two of which will be reserved for groups at risk of social exclusion.

In total, 96 new social housing units will be built under a use-rights model, based on bioclimatic parameters and designed with the participation of the members of each cooperative.

In addition, residents will pay 40% less than the average market rent in these neighbourhoods.

Development of the ESAL Agreement

The ESAL Agreement was 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 (cohousing) 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.

More info