Frankfurt More and more Germans are becoming aware of the important role real estate plays in climate protection: 40 percent of energy consumption in this country is used in buildings – around 85 percent of it for heating and hot water, 15 percent for electricity. Together, this causes around a third of all CO2 emissions. The federal government’s climate targets are therefore only possible with the involvement of property owners. Already in the past few months, stricter requirements came from Berlin, and if the Greens actually have more to say after the federal elections, the regulations for the real estate industry are likely to increase.
Large real estate groups such as Vonovia and Deutsche Wohnen have long had this in mind, but private landlords and homeowners are only too happy to steer clear of the topic. But owners should also see the positive, say experts such as Jens Rautenberg from the real estate service provider Conversio: “Of course, the stricter regulations will incur additional costs for property owners – but there are also considerable subsidy measures.” The federal subsidy programs have just been revised and increased .
The newly applicable changes
The federal government has been supporting energetic renovation measures for a long time, but the federal subsidy for efficient buildings (BEG) has been in place since the beginning of the year. This replaces the previous programs to promote energy efficiency and renewable energies in the building sector. Further changes came into force in July.
The maximum subsidies of the new programs are now higher: Buyers or builders receive up to 37,500 euros per residential unit for energy-efficient properties – previously the highest repayment subsidy was 30,000 euros. The state is now promoting energy renovation of existing properties with up to 75,000 euros per residential unit (previously: repayment subsidy of a maximum of 48,000 euros). Low-interest loans are possible up to an amount of 150,000 euros instead of 120,000 euros.
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The subsidies for individual measures can currently be applied for from BAFA, all other subsidies from KfW. From 2023, BAFA will be responsible for the grants and KfW for the loan options.
“The high subsidies for energy-efficient renovations in particular will be an incentive for many owners to raise their existing property to a new level in terms of energy,” says Henning Ludwig, specialist in construction financing at the financial advisory company Dr. Small. “On the one hand for ecological reasons, but also to save energy costs in the long term.”
The specific amount of funding depends on the efficiency house level the property will achieve after the measures have been completed: The basis for this is the KfW Efficiency House Standard. The lower the value, the lower the energy requirements of the property and the more subsidies are given to owners.
The KfW efficiency house “KfW-100” serves as the basis. An efficiency house-70 therefore only needs 70 percent of the energy of a “KfW-100” and is therefore subsidized more. The standard KfW-Efficiency House-115 was deleted by the BEG, the new funding standard 40 is added.
What is also new is that there are not only cheap loans for insulating the building envelope or replacing the heating – you can also apply for a grant. There is also funding for individual projects such as digitization measures to optimize consumption (“Efficiency Smart Home”). “The bottom line is that federal funding for efficient buildings benefits consumers,” says Dr. Klein expert Ludwig. “The new programs support higher energy standards, and because smaller individual measures are also eligible, they appeal to a larger audience.”
Don’t be put off by costs
It is impossible to say in general which support is the best. “There are so many measures that can be complemented and combined,” emphasizes real estate consultant Rautenberg. “That is really heavy fare, as a normal Otto consumer can hardly see through it. It is really advisable to seek help from an energy efficiency advisor, ”he says. In North Rhine-Westphalia you have to calculate around 600 euros for a consultation. An energy advisor is also required for some funding packages and grants.
In Rautenberg’s opinion, private landlords in particular benefit from the subsidy measures, and for a variety of reasons: First, because they not only receive subsidies, but can also claim the costs of the modernization in their tax returns. Second, they can pass on up to eight percent to the tenant as modernization costs.
Thirdly, in the medium term they would have the option of increasing the net rent. Because when renting a property, rent including heating is crucial for many tenants. But if the ancillary costs are lower, the basic rent can be higher without the tenants being put off.
And fourth, finally, all property owners benefit from the increase in the value of a modern property.
“Sure, you have to pay for it – but you can’t ignore the positive factors. And by now everyone should know that we have to do something about climate change, ”Rautenberg draws a positive conclusion.
More: Four climate protection measures that will save real estate owners real money
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