Greece offers up to €46,000 in housing renovation grants under expanded scheme
Greece is offering grants of up to €46,000 for the renovation of older and long-term vacant homes under the “Anakainisi Katoikias” housing renovation program, which has a total budget of €500 million.
The scheme, funded through the 2021-2027 European Regional Development Fund framework, supports the renovation of residential properties, including limited energy-efficiency improvements.
Recent changes to the program have also expanded eligibility and eased restrictions for properties that have remained vacant.
Grants cover up to 80% of renovation costs
The level of financial support depends on the applicant’s income category.
Applicants in the first income category can receive funding covering up to 80% of eligible renovation costs, while those in the second category can receive support covering up to 70%.
For the first category, the annual taxable income threshold is €18,000 for single applicants. For married applicants, the applicable threshold varies according to the number of children.
Under the second category, the income limits rise to €25,000 for single applicants and up to €45,000 for married applicants.
In certain cases, the grant rate can be increased by an additional five percentage points. The measure applies to residents of mountainous and island areas, as well as single-parent households, families with three or more children and households including people with disabilities.
New rules for vacant homes
The latest changes introduce specific provisions for homes that remained closed and unused during 2024 and 2025.
To qualify under the vacant-home provisions, total electricity consumption during 2024 and 2025 must have remained below 100 kWh. Electricity consumption from 2026 until the date of application must also remain within the specified limit.
The changes are particularly significant for owners seeking to bring long-term vacant properties back into use.
Deadline extended to September 30
The deadline for obtaining the required eligibility certificate for vacant properties has been extended to September 30, 2026.
Another restriction has also been removed. Previously, during the second stage of the scheme, applicants could receive funding for only one vacant property. The removal of this limitation means eligible applicants may now have the opportunity to obtain support for more than one vacant home, provided all requirements are met.
More than 91,000 applications receive eligibility certificates
Interest in the program has been substantial.
According to figures available in early September, more than 91,000 applications had received eligibility certificates, while the number of selected vacant properties had exceeded 11,200.
The government’s housing renovation initiative is intended to encourage the renovation and reactivation of unused properties while supporting households with the cost of improving their homes.
