By Tasos Dasopoulos
The excess of 200m euros, which is available in the "Renovation" programme for the renovation and partial energy upgrading of closed houses, left yesterday the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis.
Speaking to ERTnews about housing and especially about the issue of the "Renovation" programme, Mr Papathanasis stressed that 9,000 people have so far joined for the part of the project concerning closed housing.
"From this track we expect a total of 11,000 applications. However, those applying will join and receive a 95% subsidy on the cost of work. We do not expect a plan to solve the housing, but its proper implementation will provide solutions to the housing," Mr Papathanasis said, leaving open the possibility for this phase of the project to be allocated more than EUR 200 million estimated from the total EUR 480 million, if there are applications that meet the criteria.
With regard to the second part of the programme, which concerns the renovation of open and privately owned dwellings, through which some EUR 280 million is available, applications from the first period of the programme, in which potential beneficiaries should apply to check whether they meet the criteria, have already reached 80,000 people.
As you know, the "Renovation" programme will cover the grant of renovation and mild energy upgrading of old houses, which are either currently closed or privately owned, but the owners have no resources to renovate them.
The subsidy can reach up to 36,000 euros per property, covering up to 90% of the cost of renovation or energy upgrading. The maximum amount is EUR 300/m2, while the programme concerns residences up to 120 m2 with building permit until 31 December 1990.
General renovation work will be subsidized with 60% to 90%, while energy interventions with 20% to 40%, covering about 20%–30% of total expenditure. The subsidy reaches EUR 300 per square metre for housing up to 120 sq.m. and concerns mainly renovation work, such as kitchen and bathroom change, window replacement, electrical and hydraulic interventions, as well as mild energy upgrading.
The energy upgrade will also result from the replacement of old air condition with heat pumps or the installation of solar water heaters, depending on the needs of the owner.
In September applications
The final phase, in which the interested parties can submit their applications, will be in September and will evolve into two phases.
Against the first phase, applications will concern houses which are currently closed and the grant of renovation and repair work, which will reach 95%, will have one condition: the house will be allocated for rent for at least three years, with fixed rent, with the aim of increasing the housing offer.
The second phase The programme will also be opened for homeowners, with similar conditions, with a view to being able to sell at good prices in future, increasing the supply of housing.
The conditions for the property is:
– Have surface up to 120 sq.m.
– Be in a residential area.
– Be declared closed for at least three years.
– For the new program of 2026, the building permit was issued by 31 December 1990 to meet the criterion of old age.
