Across the European Union, the obligation is clear: to meet the climate and energy efficiency targets now firmly embedded in European law following the Green Deal, energy renovation rates will need to at least double. But on the ground, the instability of public policies and support schemes is undermining owner investment. An analysis of a structural problem affecting the whole of Europe.
The challenge: doubling renovation rates across Europe
European climate targets are politically binding. To achieve them, energy renovation rates must at minimum double in the coming years. This is an immense undertaking: millions of homes to renovate, tens of billions of euros to invest.
While policy debates often emphasise the "double benefit" of renovation — lower bills and improved comfort — we know that in practice, even though an impact on property values is beginning to be observed, it is neither systematic nor guaranteed.
For property owners, renovation remains an obstacle course
Several realities coexist:
- High costs: a full energy renovation can exceed EUR 50,000 for an apartment
- Significant administrative complexity: permits, attestations, audits, EPC certificates
- No direct return on investment: for landlords, the owner bears the cost of the works while the tenant benefits primarily (reduced bills, improved comfort)
This is why one-stop shops (or OSS, in European jargon) are not a luxury. They are an essential interface and an indispensable support tool for translating politically binding climate targets into concrete solutions adapted to the lived reality of millions of property owners.
One-stop shops: an essential mechanism under pressure
When properly designed and endowed with clear governance, one-stop shops can constitute the "missing link" in the renovation value chain. They offer owners centralised access to integrated technical, financial, and legal services, enabling them to structure a renovation project from the first audit to final reception.
On condition that they rest on neutral advice
Provided by trained and independent experts, one-stop shops make it possible to simplify growing complexity, translating the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and other national requirements into an operational roadmap that is readable and adapted to individual situations.
It is in this framework, and only in this framework, that they can play a decisive role in building trust, in a market where construction costs have reached historically high levels.
Yet these vital structures are under pressure
Take the example of the Brussels-Capital Region, a pioneer in establishing a robust support ecosystem through bodies such as Homegrade, the regional one-stop shop. These services played a decisive role in demystifying renovation for thousands of citizens in the Belgian capital.
However, this ecosystem has recently been weakened by shifting political priorities and budgetary constraints. The regional Renolution programme, which financially supported energy renovation projects, has just been interrupted. As explained in detail in our article on Brussels Renolution grants 2025 abandoned, while the grants introduced in 2024 will be paid, the grants for 2025 are at this stage neither confirmed nor guaranteed.
The damage caused by "stop-and-go": the French case
One-stop shops are not the only victims of budgetary instability. The permanent "stop-and-go" approach to public support schemes is probably the main obstacle to private investment.
In France: MaPrimeRenov' in turmoil
The repeated adjustments to MaPrimeRenov', oscillating between budget cuts and changing eligibility criteria, have sent a signal of instability to the very households the government is trying to mobilise.
Consequences: a record fall of -3.8% in 2025
The French construction sector recorded a record fall of 3.8% in its activity in 2025, with up to 40,000 jobs destroyed over the past two years, according to a recent report from the Confederation of Craftsmen and Small Construction Businesses (CAPEB).
Owners invited to leap into the void
On one side, the "sticks" of the EPBD and national regulations remain firmly in place: obligations to improve energy class ratings and rental prohibitions are looming.
On the other side, the "carrots" — the tax advantages and subsidies that are supposed to make these works viable — are anything but reliable.
This incoherence hits hardest:
- Small landlords unable to plan a multi-year project
- Middle-class households who cannot count on a grant still existing when the final invoice arrives
- Construction professionals buffeted by fluctuating demand
The irreplaceable human factor
As we enter an era of rapid digitalisation and the promises of AI-assisted digital building logbooks emerge, we must not lose sight of what makes one-stop shops successful today: the human factor.
Renovating a home is not a simple technical operation
It is a deeply personal and often stressful financial journey.
For the most vulnerable groups in particular, and for older people — who represent a very significant proportion of private property owners — the human factor will remain indispensable. These owners are often those who feel the greatest "fear of change" and need far more than a digital portal: they need a trusted adviser to guide them through the prospect of disruptive works and complex financing arrangements.
While structural automation will, in the future, be able to rationalise certain processes, these services currently depend on skilled and stable human staff. Budgetary uncertainty and recruitment freezes do not only threaten subsidies; they endanger the women and men whose expertise is driving the renovation market forward.
Beyond a polarised debate
In recent times, some voices have argued that one-stop shops and public incentives should be reserved exclusively for the most vulnerable households. While we are among the first to advocate strong support for lower-income households, we must avoid a polarised or black-and-white approach to renovation policy.
The reality: even the middle class struggles
Renovations, particularly at scale, are extremely costly. Even middle-class owners or small landlords struggle to face the scale of the investment required.
Asking an individual to invest EUR 40,000 or 50,000 to renovate an apartment is a major financial decision. In this context, even limited incentives can constitute the decisive trigger that makes a project viable.
If we restrict support too narrowly, we risk leaving the majority of the property stock behind, effectively blocking the entire transition.
Moving towards durable infrastructure
To prevent the sector from hitting a wall, positive rhetoric is not enough. What is needed is stable, multi-year funding at national level, reinforced by European financing instruments such as the future European Competitiveness Fund and the next multi-annual financial framework.
Owners must have the clear guarantee that, when they commit to a renovation journey, the support framework and the associated human expertise will remain in place from beginning to end.
Renovation represents a significant personal and financial risk. At a time when citizens are already facing multiple pressures, public policy must offer stability and a genuine helping hand.
If we want individuals to invest, the policy environment must be as solid as the buildings we seek to preserve.
What property managers should take away
In this context of European uncertainty, here is a framework for orientating your decisions:
1. Prioritise works that pay for themselves even without a grant
Identify works that pay for themselves (roof insulation = 5–8 years, replacing an ageing boiler, priority double glazing). Grants become a bonus, not a prerequisite.
2. Monitor regional one-stop shops
Homegrade in Brussels, energy one-stop shops in Wallonia, Houseful-Energiehuizen in Flanders. Even when grants fluctuate, one-stop shops offer free, neutral technical advice that retains its value.
3. Document scrupulously
For every renovation project: quotes, invoices, attestations, correspondence with the administration. In the event of a dispute or recourse over an unpaid grant, documentation is your only protection.
4. Do not over-rely on grants
A solid financing plan must not treat grants as a sine qua non. Recent years have shown that this condition is fragile.
5. Mobilise collectively
Individual owner voices are rarely heard. Professional federations, co-owner associations, and landlord groups are the channels that actually move public policy.
In conclusion
"Stop-and-go" renovation policies are not merely an administrative frustration: they constitute a structural brake on achieving European climate targets. Every change in the support regime destroys patiently built trust and discourages investment.
Visibility and stability are essential, for all players in the ecosystem and for individuals alike, in order to plan for the long term. As long as the rules change every 18 months, European targets will remain out of reach.
Further reading
For a deep dive into the concrete Brussels case, see our detailed article on Brussels Renolution grants 2025 abandoned.
To understand how energy obligations are taking shape in Wallonia, our analysis of the Wallonia EPC energy renovation requirements 2028 details the forthcoming deadlines.
And if you manage co-ownerships, our article on the building manager shortage and regulatory complexity shows how this instability impacts day-to-day management.
Manage your renovation projects on Seido — works planning, tracking of EPC, lift, and asbestos attestations, centralisation of invoices and quotes for each property. Even when grant rules change, your management stays stable.