Alongside traditional external insulation and window replacement, support now extends to regulating individual energy consumption in flats and replacing outdated, energy-wasting equipment.
Eligible activities include facade and plinth insulation, roof insulation, replacing windows and doors in common areas and stairwells, and building individual heat metering and control systems. Installing heat pump systems and modernising existing heating systems are also supported items.
The target group is primarily residential buildings built with panel and block technology, but every condominium should check the eligibility criteria, as the definition is sometimes broader than the everyday term panel building suggests.
The level of support and the required own contribution vary by call, so always check the current year's valid call for the exact terms. One constant element: submitting an application requires a general meeting resolution and detailed technical documentation, which takes weeks or even months to prepare.
Securing the own contribution is often the biggest obstacle: besides the renovation fund, a loan or other supplementary source may come into play.
An important practical tip: calls are often open only for a limited time and up to a set budget, and the order of submission can matter. It is therefore worth compiling the technical documentation before the call is published.
Merbo's grant monitoring service continuously tracks the current calls and deadlines of the panel renovation subprogramme and notifies the committee as soon as a matching source opens.