By Chrysostomos Tsoufis

The platform opens tomorrow, January 8 SAVING 2025 and will remain open until March 20 (https://exoikonomo2025.gov.gr/) 430 million. euros (396 million euros for direct aid and 34 million euros for loan interest subsidies) are waiting for the owners, but also the tenants of approximately 11,500 houses, in order to upgrade them energetically.

Conditions are that the home to be upgraded is the main one (regardless of whether it is a single-family house or an apartment) and that the works to be carried out under the program upgrade it energetically by at least 3 levels.

It stands to reason, therefore, that required before applicationthe “visit” to the energy inspector (of the interested party’s choice), to determine the energy class of the candidate property to be upgraded. The property must have an energy performance certificate of class C at most, which must have been issued from New Year 2025 onwards. The program also subsidizes the issuance of the certificate.

Residences used for short-term rental NOT are eligible.

Right to participate have natural persons who have a right in rem (full ownership / usufruct / small ownership) eligible. Right to participate they also have tenants with a remaining lease term of at least 7 years at the time of their application to the program.

In essence, there are no income criteria. The final amount of the subsidy is determined by an income threshold, €5,000 for individual income and €10,000 for family income, and whether the person concerned belongs to a vulnerable category:

For individual income up to €5,000 and family income up to €10,000:

  • Victims of Thessaly 100%
  • Earthquake victims of Arkalochori-Samos 100%
  • remaining 95%

For individual income over €5,000 and family income over €10,000:

  • Families with a disabled member 80%
  • Victims of Thessaly 80%
  • Arkalochori-Samos earthquake victims 80%
  • Three children – Many children 65%
  • remaining 50%

Each natural person can make only one application and for each residence also only one application is allowed. In the case of the existence of several beneficiaries of real rights (condominiums), only the co-ownership owner has the right to participate in the Program.

The works that are subsidized up to the amount of €35,000 are the following:

  • Replacement of frames
  • Installing/Upgrading thermal insulation
  • Heating/cooling system upgrade
  • Hot water system through the use of RES
  • Smart Home Systems (Energy Storage, Electrical Load Management)

Additional work necessary for the implementation of the intervention is also subsidized, such as work and all kinds of materials for the adaptation of the frame, scaffolding, plastering, small works to restore the appearance of the element in which the intervention was made, stripping/cleaning work and the alternative management of the generated by those of waste, screens, necessary work and interventions for the correct operation/behaviour of the thermal insulation, electrical work and materials for the installation heat pump, other necessary additional material costs.

This cost includes any required IKA insurance contributions for the construction works.

The upgrade work should be complete within 8 months from the issuance of the decision to join the program. It is possible to submit a request online extension for reasons of force majeure. If accepted, the extension cannot exceed 30 days.

In the event that an interested party wishes to cover part or all of his participation with a loan (provided he has an individual income of more than €5,000 or a family income of more than €10,000) a FULL interest rate subsidy is provided. The loan agreement:

  • It is not allowed to provide for real collateral
  • It lasts 4-6 years
  • It provides for partial or total early repayment without burdening the beneficiary
  • It foresees an interest rate of 7.5% fixed throughout its duration

The loan interest subsidy will be automatically stopped in case of late payment of 3 installments

Because the interest is expected to be very high, the leadership of the Ministry of the Environment has made it clear that for the final selection a key role in scoring will be played by the criterion of degree-days that show how cold it is in each region according to the heating allowance model. A house in Amyntaio and others in Moschato have other energy needs.

In case of applications that are equal in terms of rating, the application that was submitted first is placed higher in the ranking.