Greece Opens the Rulebook on Its 95% Home Renovation Grants
by Bill Giannopoulos · Greek City TimesATHENS, October 2026 — Greek homeowners can now study the rules for a new home renovation subsidy worth up to 95% of costs, after officials published the implementation guide for the EU-backed scheme.
Applications are not open yet. The platform will open in two phases, first for closed, empty homes and then for main residences.
Officials will announce the start dates later, so applicants can prepare their files in the meantime.
The home renovation subsidy covers 70% to 95% of eligible costs. It pays up to €36,000 per home including VAT, or €300 per square metre.
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Its official program page lists a budget of €480 million. The money comes from the Environment and Climate Change program and Greece’s 13 regional programs under ESPA 2021-2027.
Who can claim the home renovation subsidy
Support targets low- and middle-income households. In Category I, single people can earn up to €18,000 and couples up to €25,000.
Those limits rise to €25,000 and €35,000 in Category II, while each child adds €5,000 to both.
Applicants in Category I receive a base rate of 80%, compared with 70% in Category II.
Each of four factors adds 5%: mountain or island areas, single parents, large families and owner-occupiers with disabilities. As a result, the maximum reaches 95% for Category I and 85% for Category II.
To qualify, homes need a building permit from before 1991 and a poor energy rating of C or lower.
They must also measure up to 120 square metres, or 150 for families with three or more children.
Closed homes must have stood empty in 2024 and 2025. After the works, the owner must live there or rent it out as a main residence.
What the guide requires
Each home renovation subsidy application must combine renovation with energy upgrades. The works must also lift the home by at least one energy class.
Energy work must make up 20% to 40% of the budget. It covers window frames, insulation, heat pumps and solar water heaters, while renovation includes kitchens, bathrooms, floors, wiring and painting.
Applicants first need an eligibility certificate through gov.gr, although it does not guarantee funding. They then apply online on a platform run by the Technical Chamber of Greece.
A technical adviser is optional but recommended. In addition, the home renovation subsidy fully covers up to €2,500 for energy certificates, the building’s electronic ID, advisers and inspections.
Owners who use the home renovation subsidy to rent out a closed home must sign a five-year lease. Short-term rentals such as Airbnb are off-limits during that time.
Selling the property within five years may mean repaying the grant. Officials first signalled a June opening for the revamped scheme in April, after Greece set aside EU funds for housing.
Source: AMNA
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