In a lot of blogs, I mentioned that you can apply for subsidies. But what kind of subsidy is available when renovating your house? It is time for a new blog.
Why would the Dutch government give you a subsidy?
Most of us agree that climate change is a problem. And, that emissions of carbon dioxide are one of the causes. The Dutch government made an agreement on reducing emissions. But need the help of people like you and me. So, the government decided to subsidize measures which can help reduce the use of energy in your house.
On the other hand, we see that climate change can cause extreme drought and wet periods in the Netherlands. Collecting water to use later on, is seen as a good solution.
Subsidies by the municipality
Some municipalities give (extra) subsidies. This is worth investing in, and they can differ very much.
Also, in most municipalities, you can ask for a loan, if necessary. Usually, the rates are very competitive.
If you live in a monument, there are loans available with a very good rate.
What you do need to know about requesting a subsidy for your house renovation
You will only receive a subsidy on glass, insulation or installation when you take at least two energy-saving measures. The refund is around 20% of the costs in 2021 and 30% in 2022. In 2023 one measure is 15% and 2 or more measures 30%. And:
1. You are the house owner
2. Live in the house yourself
3. Insulate very well, regarding the rules of the government. (Check this website!)
4. For every measure, there is a minimum of square metres of material that you need to replace. In 2022 the square metres are reduced in comparison to 2021.
5. You request a subsidy back within 12 months after the work has been carried out.
6. The work is carried out by a certified company.
7. It is not a newly built house.
I love to get question in my inbox. One of the questions was: I changed my garage into a living space, insulated the roof and walls and changed the glass panes. Can I apply for subsidies? The answer is no. Only the original ground floor will count for subsidies. Others are seen as later additions, and not applicable for subsidies.
This list is not complete. This Dutch governmental website has all the information you need.
The measures you can take
Glass
Do you still have single-glass panels in your windows or old double-glass panes? Changing the glass panes to extra insulated (HR++) or triple glass panes can be a good solution to reduce energy. It is even more effective if you need to renew window cases as well. Do you want to know more? Just check this blog.
Insulation
The most cost-efficient measures you can take are insulating your cavity wall and roof. You will earn it back within 10 years. But also, floor insulation is worth investing in.
Sometimes the municipality gives a subsidy when you do it yourself.
On top of that, is there are some rules about how thick the insulation must be. This can change per year, as the rules are getting more strict.
Before you insulate your house, an investigation of the construction, and good advice, are needed. This will help you to gain a good and durable result.
Need to learn more: check this blog!
Installations
Is it time to renew the hot water boiler? Are you planning to live for a longer period in your house? In the last years, more sustainable ways of heating a house became also more affordable.
Think about a hybrid heat pump or a full electric way of heating.
As the investment sustainably of heating is more than a normal hot water boiler, you can ask for a subsidy to heat your house sustainably.
Solar panels
In April 2021, new solar panels were placed on our roof. And guess what? We already generate 80% of the energy we use in a year. Getting money back for solar panels works differently than for insulation.
2022 and before
My advice, ask the company who placed the solar panels to ask for the 21% V.A.T. back. This will save a lot of your time and energy.
In 2023 the V.A.T. on solar panels will be abolished. So, you don’t pay any V.A.T. any more.
Sedum roof
A green roof or sedum roof is often subsidized by the municipality. An extra layer of sedum on your roof helps to have some extra insulation in the winter. On the other hand, it absorbs rainwater.
But there are more advantages:
1. It cools the house up to 5 degrees in the summer.
2. The roof will last longer than just a normal flat roof.
For example, Eindhoven will give you a €25.00 per square meter subsidy, when you cover your roof with sedum plants. This is with a minimum of 10 square meters. The costs are around €50.00 – €75.00 a square meter.
Garden
Stone tiles out, plants in. That’s the Dutch slogan. Many gardens are full of stones. Of course, there are many advantages to think of. The argument, which is used the most, is that only tile in the garden means no maintenance. Although, weeds still grow.
Stone absorbs no water. And when it rains, the sewerage can overflow. That is the reason why many municipalities subsidize replacing stone with green plants. Check the website of your city or village for more information.
Rain barrel
Even for a rain barrel, you can get some money back. Just check this website.
How do you apply for a subsidy?
First: collect all the invoices you have.
Second: for insulation or installation you go to this website, fill in the forms and log in with your Digid.
With other measures: go to the website from your city or village and follow the instructions there.
Sometimes you need to wait until next year to ask for a subsidy back because the money is used already.
When you have problems financing the improvement of your house, it can be wise to ask your mortgage advisor about the possibilities. There are a lot of possibilities when you want to make your house sustainable, and loaners see it as a good investment.
What to do when you need help
If you are planning to make your house more sustainable, feel free to plan an online kickstart. I love helping you through the process.
For monumental property owners
Are you living in a monumental house? Then the rules for insulating your house can be different. The first thing to do is asking for a permit of the municipality. There are a lot of possibilities, although the value of the monumental house should be taken into account.
Future
Transforming houses into energy-saving houses needs to be accelerated. All kinds of ideas are mentioned by the government.
Conclusion
Are you renovating your house? Do you want to make it sustainable at the same time? Or, just save money on your energy bill? Then, check if there is a subsidy available for your house and situation. In many cases, it can be difficult to fill in the form in Dutch. If you need help and save time with this, just send a message.
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