The Ministry of Environment and Energy has announced a 15-day extension of the application process for the energy upgrade programme “Energy Efficiency 2021”.
The extension was deemed necessary due to the extraordinary circumstances in the public administration caused by the Omicron mutation of Covid-19 and the severe weather conditions of the previous days.
The new deadline is February 15, 2022 for single-family homes/individual apartments applications.
” Execonomo 2021″
In “ExoEconomy 2021” (https://exoikonomo2021.gov.gr/), the most important changes, compared to the past, concern the abolition of the time priority in the evaluation of applications, the introduction of social evaluation criteria and the creation of a list of beneficiaries.
For the first time, a separate budget of €100 million is created. for vulnerable households, while special care is taken for single-parent families, large families and households with disabled persons. ExoEconomy 2021 will contribute to the energy upgrade of 38% more homes than in the previous cycle of the programme.
The most important criterion for the scoring of applications is the estimated annual energy savings based on the proposed cost of interventions at 50%, followed by individual or family income at 15%. For households with individual incomes up to €5,000 and family incomes up to €10,000, the subsidy is 75%.
For these households, the possibility of issuing an interest-free loan guaranteed by the State for the percentage of the equity participation is provided.
The project is part of the flagship projects of the Recovery and Resilience Fund. It is financed with €632 million. and a total of over €1 billion is expected to be mobilised. with the average estimated subsidy being 62% of the total expenditure.
ExoEconomy 2021 will significantly improve the energy class of households, achieving primary energy savings of more than 30% for each home.
Houses selected for inclusion in the programme must meet the following requirements:
– To exist legally.
– Not to have been declared demolishable.
– To be used as main residences.
– Be classified on the basis of the First Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in a category lower or equal to C.
Beneficiaries
Natural persons with a lien on an eligible home are eligible to participate in the programme. The applicant’s right in rem (full ownership/transfer of ownership/possessory ownership) must exist in the reference year of the programme (tax year 2020), as at the time of submission of the application.
If there are several beneficiaries of rights in rem (co-owners) in an eligible dwelling: if the main use of the dwelling under application is by one of the co-owners, only the co-owner who owns the dwelling is eligible to participate in the Programme.
If the main use of the dwelling under application is for another person who is not a co-owner (free concession/lease), any of the co-owners with full ownership/possession rights in rem (not freehold) is entitled to participate in the scheme.
The main use of the home is recorded in the user’s income tax return within the last 3 years, with priority given to the reference year (tax year 2020).
If the income tax return for the reference year shows that the property was not in use (empty apartment, empty house) in the tax year in question, corresponding documents from one of the two previous tax years will be used to certify the main use of the property.
If the residence has been acquired after 31.12.2020 (recent acquisition of property), a written commitment for the main use of the residence will be requested.
The provisions of Regulation 1407/2013 of the European Commission on de minimis aid apply to rental housing, where the cumulation limits are set. Homes using short-term rental are not eligible.
There are 2 distinct types of applications under the Programme:
Application for an individual apartment or single-family house. Condominium application (including applications of apartments as part of a condominium application)
In case there are several co-owners and the main residence is used by one of them, only the co-owner who is owner-occupied is eligible to apply for the scheme and receives the corresponding tiered rate per income category.
Similarly, in the case where the use of the house is made by a third person – not a co-tenant (free concession/lease), any of the usufructuaries – full owners (not the small owner) is entitled to apply to the scheme and receives the corresponding tiered rate per income category.
Similarly, in the case where the use of the house is made by a third person – not a co-tenant (free concession/lease), any of the usufructuaries – full owners (not the small owner) is entitled to apply to the scheme and receives the corresponding tiered rate per income category.
For multi-family applications, when all the millimeters of the apartment building participate, an additional grant (bonus) +10% is provided on the planned grant rate of each participating apartment.
The grant rate refers to the eligible intervention budget. For the remaining percentage up to 100% of the eligible intervention budget, a loan with an interest rate subsidy may be granted, on the basis of a request by the beneficiary.
It is worth noting that the cost of the two energy audits, the cost of the project consultant, the cost of the preparation of the Electronic Building Identity / Registered Property, as well as any other study costs, are fully covered by the programme.
Conditions
In order to be considered eligible, a dwelling must meet the following general conditions:
It exists legally.It has not been declared demolish able. It is used as a main residence. It has been classified on the basis of the First Energy Performance Certificate (EPC A’) in a category lower than or equal to C’.
Under no circumstances are properties in the building that are not used for residential purposes (e.g. a shop on the ground floor of the building) eligible.
It should be noted that, due to the electronic cross-checks of the data of the residence entered in the application form with the corresponding data declared to the tax authority, it is necessary that the tenant’s income tax return (E1), if there is a lease/free concession of the main residence, and the detailed statement on rents of immovable property (E2), as well as the property data return (E9), contain the full and correct electricity supply number of the tenant’s electricity supply property.
What is covered
The start date for the eligibility of expenditure is 1/2/2020 under Regulation (EU) 2021/241 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism. Projects which, on the basis of the supporting documents submitted, have been completed in terms of their physical object or have been fully executed by the date of submission of the application are not eligible.
Only the interventions completed after the issuance of the first MIP can be considered eligible for the programme and in any case the expenditure must have been incurred from 1/2/2020 (date of eligibility) onwards.
It is clarified that, in the context of the requirements of the Programme, the PEPs issued after 27.11.2017 (date of activation of the information system for issuing Energy Performance Certificates based on the KENAK approved by the decision of DEPEA/oik. 178581/30.06.2017, Government Gazette B’ 2367/12.07.2017) and before 1/2/2020, as well as studies and Approvals of Small-Scale Building Works issued before 1/2/2020 are accepted, but their expenditure is not eligible under the Programme.
The interventions submitted with the application for inclusion in the programme are based on the recommendations of the Energy Inspector and relate exclusively to the following categories of eligible interventions:
- Replacement of frames.
- Installation/upgrade of thermal insulation.
- Heating/cooling system upgrade.
- ZNX system using Renewable Energy Sources (RES).
- Other savings interventions (smart home, lighting upgrades).
Minimum energy requirements
The interventions to be made in the residences must meet the minimum requirements of the “Energy Performance of Buildings Regulation” (KENAK), as well as the additional requirements of the programme.
The proposal (combination of measures) for energy upgrading submitted with the application should meet the minimum energy target of the application, as follows:
For applications for individual apartments and single-family houses, upgrade by 3 energy categories, compared to the classification in the A’ PEA. For applications for apartment buildings, upgrade by 3 energy categories, compared to the classification in the A’ PEA. Deadlines for applications, loans and works
The start date for single-family house/individual apartment applications is 13 December 2021.
The start date for multi-family applications is the 3rd business day after the end of the single-family/individual apartment application deadline.
The possibility to submit applications online will be available for a period of 50 days from the date of submission.
After the end of the submission of applications, and only for applications eligible in principle, a 60-day deadline will be given for the submission of the Electronic Building Identity Card / Permanent Disposable Property.
Lending
Approved applications for which the applicant has chosen to enter the program with a loan are given 120 days to initiate and complete the loan process. Within the above deadline, an application for a loan must be submitted to a cooperating bank and approved.
If the above period expires without action, the applicant has the option to proceed with Equity Funds. In the case of a loan, the signing of the loan agreement is completed up to 90 days after the adoption of the decision to include the project.
Within 180 days from the date of submission of the application (partial deadline), at least 25% of the eligible budget must be completed. Within 365 days from the date of submission of the application (total deadline), the entire physical and financial scope must be completed.
Where an objection is provided for under the terms of the programme, it must be lodged within 10 days.
Evaluation criteria
The criteria for the evaluation of applications will be the following:
Energy saving costs 50%. Income/family member 14%. Heating degree-days 7%. Energy class based on A’ PEA 5%. Age of construction 3%. Disabled persons 7%. Single parent family 7%. Large families 7%.
For applications for individual apartments, single-family houses and apartments as part of an application in a block of flats
Any individual wishing to participate in the scheme must first check whether they are an “eligible beneficiary” and whether their property can be considered an “eligible home”.
Therefore, if you are a beneficiary, you must have passwords for the TAXISnet application, as it is not possible for individuals who are not certified through the application and do not have passwords to apply to the programme.
Apartments
The supporting documents for applying for an apartment are:
- Building permit and/or other corresponding/additional legal document (such as the inclusion of the declared construction or use in the law for the regularization of arbitrary constructions).
- Electricity supply bill.
- If the address indicated in the documents submitted is not the same as the current address of the property, a certificate from the relevant OTA is required in addition, showing the identification of the property (in the case of an apartment, as part of an application in a block of flats, the OTA certificate is 1 and single and is submitted by the representative).
- Energy Performance Certificate (A’ EPC) (in the case of an apartment as part of an application in an apartment building, the A’ EPC of an apartment building is submitted by the representative).
- A photographic record of the existing condition of the parts and surfaces of the property where interventions are proposed. Submit electronically at least 5 electronic files in .jpeg format
- In case the house is rented, a declaration of compliance with the De Minimis Regulation, as applicable, shall be submitted by the applicant (full owner/ usufructuary) in accordance with Annex IX.
- In case the taxpayer and/or spouse is a foreign tax resident, additional information must be submitted:
CERTIFICATE OF TAX RESIDENCE, which must be completed, signed and stamped by the competent tax authority of the country of residence. Tax return for the tax year 2020, submitted in the country of tax residence.
The above documents must be accompanied by an official translation into Greek by a competent authority.
- In the event that it is legally established that there is no obligation to submit a tax return, a solemn declaration of Law 1599/1986, in accordance with the relevant model based on the circular DEAF A 1138225 EX 2018 of the Independent Public Revenue Authority in accordance with Annex X, as well as supporting documents, where applicable, for the determination by the Implementing Entity that the criteria of the programme are met. The declaration must bear a certificate of the authenticity of the declarant’s signature.
- In case the applicant had no right in rem on the property and such right was acquired for the first time after 31.12.2020, additional documents are submitted:
The title deed. The transcription certificate from the competent land registry or the certificate of registration in the cadastral records of the relevant Land Registry Office. A Declaration of the applicant (Annex XI), stating that the property will be used as a main residence either by the applicant or by a third person, stating also the full name and VAT number of this person.
Please note that in order to submit an application, the registration/modification of the E9 Real Estate Data Declaration must be made first.
- If the tax return payer or the spouse of the tax return payer and dependent children have a disability of at least 67%, a “Disability Certification Result Notification” issued by the Disability Certification Centre is submitted.
- In the case of polygamous status, a Certificate of Polygamous Status with digital signature of the Supreme Confederation of Polytechnon of Greece (ASPE) is submitted.
Apartment buildings
The supporting documents for condominium applications are:
- Resolution of the General Assembly of Condominium Owners (General Assembly Resolution) for participation in the programme with specific interventions and appointment of a representative of condominium (Annex II form) of condominium owners in the requested interventions.
- Building permit and/or other corresponding/additional legal document (such as the inclusion of the declared construction or use in the law for the regularization of arbitrary constructions).
- A photocopy of the public utility bill.
- If the address indicated in the documents submitted is not the same as the current address of the property, a certificate from the relevant local authority is also required, showing the identification of the property.
- Energy Performance Certificate (A’ EPC).
- Photographic record of the existing condition of the parts and surfaces of the building where interventions are proposed. A minimum of 5 electronic files per participating compartment shall be submitted electronically in the form of
