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.​

On this page, you will find all the financial assistance for rent payment that the City of Barcelona and the Government of Catalonia offer. You can check the requirements, terms and amounts of the different types of aid that are available.

Aid for payment of rent debts

Status: AVAILABLE (can be requested at any time of the year)
 
Recipients: People with rent debts due to unforeseen circumstances
 
Family income limit: Between 2 and 3 times the IRSC*, depending on the members of the household
 
Maximum monthly rent:
 800€
 
Administration that grants the aid: Housing Agency of Catalonia

* IRSC = Adequate Income Indicator of Catalonia, valued at €569.12 per month and €7,967.73 per year

Permanent benefits for the payment of rent

Status: AVAILABLE

Addressees: Individuals who were already beneficiaries as of the fiscal year 2022, by Order MAH/402/2009, of August 5, who on 12/31/2012 were 65 years of age or older, with a favorable resolution granted in 2010. 

Family income limit: 2.35 times the IRSC

Administration granting the subsidy: Catalonia Housing Agency

Benefits for the payment of rental debts: renewal of beneficiaries

Status: AVAILABLE

Recipients: Persons who had a favorable resolution of the supplementary benefit to provide continuity in the payment of rent or the benefit to address situations of loss of housing

Family income limit​: Between 2 and 3 times the IRSC

Administration that grants the aid: Housing Agency of Catalonia

Grants for the payment of rent for private market housing for people in economic and social emergency situations

Status: AVAILABLE

Recipients: Particularly vulnerable people who are in a situation of economic and social emergency and at risk of residential exclusion

Administration that grants the aid: Catalonia Housing Agency

Grants for the inclusion of housing in the Rental Pool or other social programs

Status: AVAILABLE

Recipients: Individuals or legal entities who own a free-market housing unit and make it available to the Barcelona Housing Rental Pool or other social programs of the city

Administration that grants the aid: Barcelona Housing Consortium

Municipal aid derived from mediation

Status: AVAILABLE

Recipients: People with difficulties paying the rent and derived from a mediation process

Family income limit: Between 2 and 3 times the IRSC*

Maximum monthly rent: 970€

Administration that grants the aid: Housing Consortium of Barcelona

Benefits for the payment of rent

Status: NOT AVAILABLE

Recipients: Individuals residing in Barcelona who are holders of a rental contract for a dwelling located in Barcelona that constitutes their habitual and permanent residence provided they have a low or moderate income that endangers their social integration

Maximum monthly rent: Up to 300€ per dwelling, and a minimum of 20€

Family income limit: 2 times the IRSC in case of persons living alone; 2.5 times the IRSC in case of cohabitation units and 3 times the IRSC in case of disabled or highly dependent persons

Administration granting the subsidy: Barcelona Housing Consortium

Young Rental Voucher

Status: NOT AVAILABLE

Recipients: Young people between 18 and 35 years old who have a contract for an apartment or room, or are in the process of having one. If they do not have one, they will have to formalize the corresponding contract within 2 months and provide the certificate of cohabitation within 3 months, counting from the notification of the resolution

Family income limit: Between 2 and 3 times the IRSC

Maximum monthly rent: Up to 900€ for dwellings; and up to 450€ for rooms

Administration that grants the aid: Catalonia Housing Agency

Grants for the payment of rent for young people from the 2022 call for proposals

Status: NOT AVAILABLE

Recipients: Young people up to 36 years of age (included) that come from the 2022 call for proposals and that could not be estimated due to the exhaustion of the corresponding budget line.

Family income limit: Up to 2.97 times the IRSC

Maximum monthly rent: Up to 950€ for dwellings; and up to 450€ for bedrooms

Administration that grants the aid: Catalonia Housing Agency

Rent payment subsidies for persons aged 65 and over

Status: UNAVAILABLE

Addressees: Persons aged 65 or over with a rent agreement and at risk of social exclusion

Maximum monthly rent: €900

Family income limit: 3.05 times the IRSC for 2022, except in the case of victims of terrorism.

Administration granting the subsidy: Catalonia Housing Agency

Grants for the payment of rent for young people 35 years old or less

Status: NOT AVAILABLE

Recipients: Young people who at the time of application are 35 years of age or younger

Family income limit: 3.05 times the IRSC for the year 2022 (€24,301.58).

Maximum monthly rent: Up to €950 for housing (up to €1,100 for large families, single-parent families and cohabitants with a member with a legally recognised disability and a favourable mobility scale); and up to €450 for rooms.

Administration that grants the aid: Catalonia Housing Agency

Support for payment of short-term or long-term rent

Status: NOT AVAILABLE

Recipients: People up to the age between 36 and 64, who are up to date with payment of their rent but struggling to pay

Family income limit: 2-3 times the IRSC

Maximum monthly rent: €900 (dwellings), €450 (rooms)

Administration that grants the aid: Housing Agency of Catalonia (Agència de l’Habitatge de Catalunya)

Subsidy for the allocation of private market housing to families in housing need

Status: NOT AVAILABLE 

Recipients: Non-profit organisations that own or have a house that they have placed at the disposal of the Barcelona Emergency Board or the ‘Primer la Llar’ service. 

Administration granting the subsidy: Barcelona Housing Consortium.