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.​

Tourist accommodation to increase the city’s pool of affordable rental housing

28/10/2020 - 18:10

Housing. There are 22 flats in total, able to house some eighty people from vulnerable families.

Barcelona City Council has signed the first contracts with property owners from the tourist sector enabling 22 tourist flats to be used as social housing for vulnerable people currently living in pensions. The rental period is temporary and will last between one and three years.

Contracts have been signed with five owners, two of whom have transferred the use of two complete blocks, accounting for sixteen flats in all. Ten flats are in the neighbourhood of Camp de l’Arpa del Clot (Sant Martí) and six are in the neighbourhood of Poble-sec (Sants-Montjuïc). The rest of the tourist flats are in six different buildings, located in the neighbourhoods of El Clot, Vila de Gràcia, La Salut, Sagrada Família and Hostrafrancs.

The owners of the flats will get between 700 and 1,200 euros a month from the City Council, depending on the characteristics of the flats and the length of time they will be available to municipal services. Rental periods are temporary and are expected to be between one and three years.

The homes included in the programme will be awarded to families currently living in temporary accommodation such as pensions, immediately improving their living conditions.

The programme is designed to make temporary social use of flats with tourist licences, but which are empty as a result of the crisis generated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Work is currently in progress to sign more contracts with other tourist accommodation operators who have shown an interest in the initiative.