Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

but when the heating needs to be replaced after 20 years, they won’t be fully financed anymore either.

But yes, I also have mixed feelings, I’m increasingly looking into it for my parents. It seems that things are also moving forward with heat pumps, so that up to about 50VL it doesn’t have to be incredibly inefficient. That’s still less than what you usually have with an oil heating system, but the leap isn’t so huge and you’re no longer necessarily forced into “we have to switch to underfloor heating now.”

Otherwise, there are still BAFA subsidies for heating replacement between 25 and 40%. I don’t know how it looks right now, last year heat pump prices exploded and nothing was really available anyway, but maybe it’s not that much more expensive than replacing with a new burner? On the other hand, if everyone is forced and there is good funding for existing buildings, prices probably stay high?

I don’t really know how much I think of the obligation. Just the total number of systems alone is really not insignificant. But I don’t want to see it all that bleak yet either.

By the way, in this context: what happens if you could only cover the costs through a loan, but you don't get a loan, for whatever reasons?

I assume there is no regulation for that. Obligated means obligated. And yes, anyone who bought an unrenovated house from the 70s 2-3 years ago and didn't plan for renovation could now have a rude awakening. Although it doesn't necessarily have to be the heat pump. Pellets or wood chips are also allowed and could experience another upswing due to the regulation. Whether that is really environmentally friendly, remains to be seen.

That's something completely different. It was only about replacing a boiler. Now it's about installing a heating system where you practically have to renovate the whole house at the same time.

You absolutely don’t have to. But if you piece together your knowledge about, for example, heat pumps from headlines and fundamental rejection, unfortunately all that remains is hysteria.

Apart from that, we have already had "renovate the whole house" in the past decades as well, namely when converting from storage heaters to mostly gas.

@Yosan if the heating system is due after 20 years, then it is no longer fully financed.

Sure, but I was more referring to those who would have to replace their heating system almost immediately because it is at least 30 years old. Because, if I understand correctly, the obligation arises immediately in that case. So if someone bought a house 2-3 years ago with a 28-year-old oil heating system, would it be due now?!

You don't have to at all. If you mix your knowledge about, for example, heat pumps from headlines and general rejection, unfortunately, only hysteria remains.

Apart from that, we have already had "renovating the whole house" in recent decades, namely when switching from night storage heaters mostly to gas.

To add to that, I live in the Ruhr area, where people switched from coal stoves to gas/oil, possibly with the intermediate step of night storage heaters. So it seems to be possible as well.

The important thing is the topic of subsidies and the transition period.

Important is the topic of funding and the conversion period.

Exactly, and as far as I understand so far, the conversion period for everyone whose heating system is now at least 30 years old is only 2 or 3 years? Considering the delivery times and availability of craftsmen, does that basically mean starting immediately?!