Renovating an Older Property: Costs, Grants, and Profitability

The Optimal Order of Works

The order of works is crucial to avoid redoing what has already been done:

• 1. Structural work: stability, roof, waterproofing. Solve structural problems first.
• 2. Insulation: roof first (best cost-effectiveness), then walls, then floors.
• 3. Window frames and glazing: after insulation to properly size ventilation.
• 4. Technical installations: heating (sized according to insulation), electrical, plumbing, ventilation.
• 5. Finishing: plastering, floors, kitchen, bathroom, painting.

Grants and Aid by Region

Wallonia: The Rénopack and the Rénoprêt

The Walloon Housing Grants ended on 30 September 2026. Since 1 October 2026, the Region lends the money for the whole project:

• Rénopack: 0% loan with 45%, 35% or 10% not repaid depending on income, plus 5 points with eco-friendly materials.
• Rénoprêt: for higher incomes, landlords and co-ownerships, fully repaid at a preferential rate.
• Ceiling: 75,000 euros for a house, 60,000 euros per apartment.

Mandatory condition: a housing audit carried out or updated no more than one year before the application, whose cost can be financed by the loan. The home must go from G or F to at least D, or from E to at least C. More details in our guide to renovation support in Wallonia.

Brussels: Renolution Grants Suspended

The Renolution grants are suspended: there is no grant for invoices from 2025 or 2026. The ECORENO credit from the Brussels Fonds du Logement remains available, from 1,500 to 25,000 euros, at 2.5% or 3.5% depending on income. The 2027 budget agreement announces a 0% loan for spring 2027.

Flanders: Mijn VerbouwPremie

Flanders offers Mijn VerbouwPremie. The grant is a percentage of the invoice excluding VAT, with a cap per type of work. The percentage depends on your income category: the lower your income, the higher it is.

• Income categories 3 and 4: roof, wall and floor insulation, high-performance glazing, heat pumps and other works remain covered.
• Categories 1 and 2 (highest incomes): since 1 March 2026, only the heat pump and the heat pump water heater remain eligible, with reduced amounts.

The exact percentages and caps are on the official Mijn VerbouwPremie website. Important reminder: in Flanders, the buyer of a home with EPC label E or F has 6 years after the deed to reach label D.

Renovation Profitability

Impact on Property Value

A well-executed energy renovation can increase a property's value by 15 to 30%. Going from an EPC label G to label B on a 200,000-euro house can add 30,000 to 60,000 euros in value. This gain often covers a significant portion of the work costs.

Energy Savings

Annual energy savings can be substantial:

• Roof insulation: savings of 500 to 1,500 euros/year.
• Boiler replacement: savings of 300 to 800 euros/year.
• Double-glazed windows: savings of 200 to 600 euros/year.
• Wall insulation: savings of 400 to 1,200 euros/year.

Return on Investment Timeline

By combining property value increase, energy savings, and grants, the return on investment timeline for energy renovation typically ranges between 8 and 15 years. With the share of the Walloon Rénopack that is not repaid, it can be shorter.

Practical Tips

• Get the audit before buying: if possible, request an energy audit or work estimate before making an offer.
• Include renovation costs in your total budget: some banks will finance renovation works within the mortgage.
• Apply for grants before starting: in most cases, the grant application must be submitted before works begin.
• Choose accredited contractors: this is a condition for most grants.

Check EPC scores by municipality on Immolytics to identify areas where renovation offers the best value-creation potential.