Application round for the small residences renovation grant opens 23 April

The grant can be applied for the partial or complete renovation of a detached house or a dwelling with up to two apartments or a terraced house. For partial reconstruction, the grant rate is 20% of the eligible expenses and the maximum grant amount is EUR 20,000 per small residential building. In the case of complete renovation, the grant rate and maximum amount depends on the location of the residence. It is possible to receive grant for up to EUR 50,000 and up to 50% grant rate of the eligible expenses in most regions of Estonia, while in regions near Tallinn and Tartu the figures are EUR 40,000 and 40%. The support is the smallest in Tallinn and Tartu, i.e. up to EUR 30,000 and 30% of eligible expenses.

Since the purpose of the grant is to increase the energy efficiency, the most important condition for receiving the grant is the improvement of the energy efficiency class of the residence. In the case of complete renovation, the house must reach energy class C. In the case of partial renovation, an increase of at least one class is required. If the energy class of a small residence does not increase as a result of a single improvement, or if the residence has already achieved the best possible energy efficiency class A before applying for the grant, then it is not possible to receive the grant. If the grant is used to purchase a battery bank or install an electric car charging infrastructure, the recipient of the grant must also conduct additional work that would help improve the energy class of the residence.

Less stringent requirements apply to the renovation of culturally valuable residences. It is not necessary to achieve energy class C as a result of their complete renovation, an increase by one class is enough, for example from F to E. It is also unnecessary to conduct works that significantly change the exterior of the building if they conflict with the requirements of heritage protection – for example, leaving the facade less insulated during renovation or not changing the windows.

The application is made simpler by the fact that it is no longer necessary to submit price quotes when purchasing solar panels and inverters as well as batteries. Instead, a fixed grant amount is paid, regardless of how expensive or cheap the project turns out to be. Solar panels and inverters up to 15 kilowatts are grant-supported. When purchasing solar panels and an inverter, the unit price is EUR 1140, when purchasing a battery bank, it is EUR 642 per kilowatt, and the grant rate is 30% of the unit price.

The unit price only applies to the purchase of solar panels, inverters and batteries – all other devices and materials purchased and services ordered require price quotes.

Starting from 23 April, it is possible to apply for the grant for the renovation of a small residence in the e-toetus environment managed by the State Shared Service Centre. Works may not begin and advance payment may not be made before submitting the application, except for the preparation of an energy label or a construction project expenses. The supported activities must be completed within 12 months from the decision to approve the application. In a justified case, it is possible to extend the deadline for the completion of activities once by up to six months. The latest date for the completion of the works is 31 December, 2025.

The grant round is financed by the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).

Check the terms and conditions of the round here kredex.ee/en/majaduueks

The EAS and KredEx joint agency is a participant in the European Union LIFE IP BuildEST project, which brings together knowledge and experience from different parties for the reconstruction of Estonian housing stock by 2050.