-(1).jpg "Renovate 2026")
Platform Opens for Subsidized Renovation of Vacant Residential Properties
Subsidy of up to 95% for the renovation of your home
Up to €36,000 for the renovation and energy upgrade of an older home. The Joint Ministerial Decision has been published, and applications are evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis.
With the publication of the Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD 86272/2026, Government Gazette 3058/B/2-6-2026), the new "Renovate 2026" programme officially begins (officially: "Home Renovation" action). The programme subsidises the renovation and mild energy upgrading of older homes, with a dual objective: to bring vacant homes back to the market and to upgrade the primary residences of low- and middle-income households.
The "Renovate 2026" programme at a glance
- Subsidy rate 70% or 80% base rate - up to 85%-95% with special bonuses
- Maximum cap €300/sq.m. with a maximum amount of €36,000 per residence (including VAT)
- Extra Bonus Engineers' fees and the required certificates are covered 100% up to €2,500
- Eligible homes Vacant & primary residences, with a building permit issued before 31/12/1990 and a surface area of up to 120 sq.m.
- Eligibility criterion: First-come, first-served order (First-come, first-served), the "speed" factor is decisive
The basic home renovation subsidy rate depends on your income and is divided into two categories:
| Income Category | Base Rate | With Additional Increases |
| Category I (Lower-income households) | 80% | up to 95% |
| Category II (Middle-income households) | 70% | up to 85% |
Important: Additional increases amount to +5 percentage points (cumulatively) for island/mountainous areas, single-parent families, families with three or more children, and persons with disabilities (PwDs).
The expenditure cap is set at €300/sq.m., with the maximum total subsidy reaching €36,000 (for homes up to 120 sq.m.).
Additional benefit: Engineers' fees and the required certificates (Energy Performance Certificate - EPC, Electronic Building Identity, Building Inspector) are covered at 100% up to the amount of €2,500, in addition to the renovation subsidy amount.
Income criteria (Tax year 2025) The Home Renovation 2026 programme sets specific income thresholds based on family status:
Single person (single-member household) Category I up to €18,000 | Category II up to €25,000
Couple / Civil Partnership without children Category I up to €25,000 | Category II up to €35,000
Couple / Civil Partnership with 1 child Category I up to €30,000 | Category II up to €40,000
Couple / Civil Partnership with 2 children Category I up to €35,000 | Category II up to €45,000
Single-parent family with 1 child Category I up to €28,000 | Category II up to €39,000
For each additional child +€5,000 in Category I | +€5,000 in Category II
If your income for tax year 2025 slightly exceeds the maximum threshold, there is an alternative! The programme allows the calculation to be based on the average income of the three-year period 2023–2025, which may ultimately make you eligible. At Entec Consultants, we undertake this assessment for you completely free of charge.
To be included in the “Renovate 2026” ESIF housing subsidy programme, a property must meet all of the following conditions:
Building permit Issued up to 31/12/1990 (or an equivalent official legalization document)
Surface area Main living spaces up to 120 sq.m. (the limit increases up to 150 sq.m. for families with three or more children)
Energy class Category C or lower, as determined by the first Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Legal status Fully legal, with no pending building or urban planning violations
Vacant property renovation The property must have been vacant during 2024–2025. This is proven by electricity disconnection before 1/1/2024 (or total consumption below 50 kWh) and its declaration as “vacant” in Form E2
Primary residence subsidy The property must be your main residence, which you occupy and can officially prove
Excluded properties: Properties registered in the short-term rental registry (Airbnb-type listings) are not eligible, as well as properties that have already received funding from another energy upgrade or renovation programme after 1/1/2020.
The interventions are divided into two main categories:
Renovation & Repair: Replacement or repair of plumbing and electrical systems, full renovation of bathrooms and kitchens, new flooring and surface finishes, painting works, necessary construction works, and demolition/removal works.
Home energy upgrade: This is mandatory and must cover 20%-40% of the total budget. It includes replacement of windows and doors, thermal insulation, installation of a heat pump, solar water heater, and other measures, with the aim of upgrading the property by at least one energy class. The exact technical specifications will be defined in the official Implementation Guide.
Beneficiaries are required to maintain the use of the property for at least 5 years.
- If it is a vacant apartment intended for rental, this must be done through a long-term lease as a primary residence, with a fixed rent for the first 3 years.
- Short-term rentals (Airbnb) are strictly prohibited.
- Any transfer of ownership of the property within the 5-year period results in the obligation to repay the subsidy.
The process in 5 steps
Free pre-assessment We check your eligibility and calculate your exact subsidy rate
Eligibility Certificate Issuance of the certificate via the gov.gr platform (with automatic cross-checking of AADE/DEDDIE data)
Funding Application Submission of the file to the TEE digital platform, which includes the Intervention Plan, the First Energy Performance Certificate (A’ EPC), the Electronic Building Identity (EBI), and the supporting documents
Approval & Implementation Issuance of the inclusion decision and execution of the works by specialised and certified contractors
Disbursement Certification of the project (B’ EPC) and direct payment of the subsidy to your bank account after the final inspection
Applications are approved on a strict first-come, first-served basis until available funds are exhausted. The process will be carried out in phases (vacant homes are prioritised, followed by primary residences). Anyone who does not have a ready file in time risks being excluded from funding.
At Entec Consultants we offer a complete “turnkey” solution, taking care of all bureaucracy and technical supervision:
- Free initial eligibility check and accurate calculation of the maximum subsidy
- Full management of your file – collection of documents, digital submission, and ongoing monitoring
- Experienced certified engineers for issuing certificates (A’ & B’ EPC), technical studies, and optimal design of interventions
- Regularisation of building violations so your property file is 100% legal and ready before submission
- Strong network of certified contractors in Crete and Attica for guaranteed quality of works
- Continuous support until final disbursement, with nationwide presence (Heraklion, Athens, Chania, Thessaloniki)
When does the “Renovate 2026” platform open?
The relevant Joint Ministerial Decision was issued on 2/6/2026. The exact application start dates will be announced very soon with the publication of the Implementation Guide. Since a first-come, first-served system will be applied, collecting documents and preparing your file should start now.
Does the programme cover my primary residence?
Yes, the programme fully covers your primary residence, with the obligation to maintain its use as a primary home for 5 years after completion of the works.
What if my property has building violations?
To be eligible, the property must be fully legal. Any building violations must be settled before the final submission to the platform. Entec’s engineers undertake full legalisation and regularisation of your property.
How much own contribution will I need to pay?
The programme covers up to 95% of eligible expenses. The remaining percentage is the owner’s contribution, for which flexible coverage options are available (e.g. bank financing or own funds).