The EU’s compulsory renovation plan only affects homeowners? Not at all!
The EU Parliament voted on Tuesday for stricter requirements for the energy efficiency of buildings. This means that by 2023 residential buildings should at least achieve energy efficiency class “E”, by 2033 energy efficiency class “D”.
This also has an impact on millions of tenants! You get the full force of the restructuring plans to feel.
► Prof. Dr. Michael Voigtländer (48), economics professor and real estate expert from the Cologne Institute for Economic Research. He told BILD: “If apartments with poor energy efficiency are no longer allowed to be rented out in the future, the supply would go down even further. Either way, the supply of particularly cheap apartments will decrease.”
Means: tenants have to pay for the redevelopment plans of the traffic lights.
Due to the high construction costs, construction activity is already declining. Voigtländer: “In general, the situation for tenants is becoming increasingly difficult. We can already see that the competition for rental apartments is high and rents are therefore rising.”
The beneficiaries of the EU plans? Owners of energy efficient apartments and houses. They are “on the safe side and can expect further rent increases.” On the other hand, it will be bitter for owners of properties with high energy consumption. These would have to “deal with renovations”, according to Voigtländer. And that costs money!
That’s how expensive the renovations are
► heat pump: Costs from 25,000 euros (air) to 40,000 euros (brine). In addition, costs for new underfloor heating: 1000 euros/sqm.
► Solar thermal: From 6500 euros for a family home (hot water only). From 13,000 euros if heating is supported.
► Solar system: From 10,000 euros (with 5 kWh output), storage: from 5,000 euros.
► Roof: Complete insulation from 500 euros/sqm.
For many owners of inefficient real estate, this can mean financial ruin.
With regard to the high renovation costs and the decline in the value of the building, Voigtländer advises: “Owners who have such properties” should “deal with a sale”. But: “There will probably be hardship regulations for owner-occupiers in single-family homes.”
Traffic light plans border on “cold expropriation”
Jan-Marco Luczak (47), spokesman for housing policy for the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag, is concerned that the plans for forced renovation AND the Heating ban by Economics Minister Robert Habeck (53, Greens) overwhelmed the citizens.
Because: From 2024, only new heaters that produce heat from “at least 65 percent renewable energies” may be installed. From 2045 there will be a complete ban on all oil and gas heating.
Luczak to BILD: “Robert Habeck’s prohibition law divides traffic lights and society in equal measure. The people in our country have been shaken enough by inflation, high interest rates and the energy crisis, now they are shackled with the obligation to replace old heaters. Climate protection and the heat transition will only work if they remain affordable.”
Luczak is certain that the “strict requirements will overwhelm many people and may even force them to sell or move out.” That borders on “cold expropriation”.
