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. Wad Ras and Trintat Vella prisons to close by 2027

Wad Ras and Trintat Vella prisons to close by 2027

Wad Ras and Trintat Vella prisons to close by 2027

17/03/2021 - 13:34

Urban planning. Two new penitentiary centres will be built on two sites in the Zona Franca.

The last two prisons left in the city, Wad Ras and Trinitat Vella, are to close within six years. The sites have been penitentiary centres for decades but will now be turned into housing and facilities for neighbourhoods. Barcelona City Council has granted the Government of Catalonia the use of two sites in the Zona Franca to build an open centre, for prisoners on open-prison regimes, and a women’s prison designed with the gender perspective.

The transfer to the sites in the Zona Franca for the Trinitat Vella and Wad Ras prisons was brought to a halt for a time after the appearance of heavy metals in the subsoil, caused by industrial activity at the sites. The two sites will be decontaminated so that work on the new penitentiary facilities can start.

Closure of the Trinitat Vella prison

Barcelona City Council is to acquire the space of 20,000 m2 left by the former prison at a cost of 6.64 million euros. This large area will be used for the construction of 410 homes with official protection, 131 of which will start being built once the City Council owns the land. The homes will be used for people affected by the re-housing process.

The Trinitat Vella prison opened in 1964. Over its 57-year history it has been adapted for various uses: firstly for women, later for young people and finally as an open prison.

Wad Ras, the oldest prison in Catalonia

Built in 1915, the Wad Ras prison will be transferred to a new centre in four years’ time, conceived and designed with the gender perspective and with a capacity for around 600 prisoners. Over its 106-year history the current building has been used as women’s prison, a centre for minors and an open centre, although it was originally designed as a reform school. The facility is now obsolete as a prison.

Approval by the Full Council

The Full Council meeting for March approved the agreement between the City Council and the Government of Catalonia to close down the Trinitat Vella and Wad Ras prisons and transfer them to the Zona Franca.

 

Related links