Financing an existing property with energy class A+

Hello everyone,

we have found an interesting house and maybe some of you can help with possible financing. Unfortunately, the many different funding programs are not so easy to understand.

About the house:

The house was completed in 2017 but was already approved in 2013. There is an energy certificate that is valid until 04.11.2023: the final energy consumption of the building is 20 kwh/m2 (A+). The primary energy consumption is 36 kWh/m2. The house itself is not yet completely finished because the builder was no longer able to continue due to health problems. There is a list of the completion works. Among other things, the following still needs to be done:

- the base plaster and thermal insulation plaster need to be applied on the facade
- the heating pipes need to be wrapped with suitable insulation material and the heating needs to be checked and adjusted
- insulation needs to be installed in the wooden beam ceiling
- various drywall works need to be carried out
- interior plaster and painting work
- installation of 2 missing skylights
- exterior facilities (paving the driveway, retaining walls, light wells, stair entrance, slope wall, etc.)
- complete balcony/terrace including thermal insulation (sealing; parapet, railing, balcony covering)

Is it possible under these conditions to apply for the KFW 261 loan for the property even though it has the efficiency class A+ according to the energy certificate? Additional insulation measures are planned for completion.

Are there other KfW funding programs/loans that could be suitable for such a project?

Best regards and thanks in advance!

My answer is "no". Since you will not carry out a renovation to an energy-efficient house because the house already corresponds to an energy-efficient house and still needs to be completed.

Hello Karsten,

I had hoped that you would respond here.

Alright, that would initially mean that further insulation measures (e.g. facade and roof) are not eligible for funding and are therefore only conditionally worthwhile.

We would like to partially convert the basement of the building into living space. Is something like that eligible for funding?

Best regards

Yes, you can get funding for the basement conversion through 261 ==> see KfW


BUT: Is the basement declared as living space? Or does it require a new building permit, or is the basement even eligible for approval as living space?

The basement (total 120m2) is declared as usable space in the plans. Of this, 50 m2 is the garage. The basement has a shell height of 2.82 m

Attached is a screenshot of the usable space calculation + layout.

Best regards

The basement (total 120m2) is declared as usable space in the plans. Of that, 50 m2 is the garage. The basement has a shell height of 2.82 m

Then go to the building authority and architects and clarify whether a conversion is possible. What would need to be done then?
==>
- Architectural planning and building application
- Electrical work
- Integration into heating, possibly a larger heating system
- Escape routes
- Natural lighting, i.e. windows (possibly recesses)
- Excavation of the basement for insulation
...
Depending on the current level of expansion, you will have to invest somewhere from €150,000 for the 70 sqm.