Wallonia Unveils New Energy Renovation Support Scheme Targeting Worst-Performing Homes
The Walloon Government has approved a sweeping reform of its energy renovation support system, set to take effect on October 1, 2026, replacing a complex grant-based regime that accumulated over €1 billion in budget overruns. The new system will focus public resources on the region’s most energy-inefficient homes through a streamlined loan-based approach.
A System in Crisis
The previous Walloon renovation support framework had become unsustainable. It featured more than 120 different types of grants, creating confusion for homeowners, processing delays stretching up to two years, and a budget overrun of €1 billion that threatened the very existence of renovation aid, according to the official press release from Minister Cécile Neven’s office.
In February 2025, the government established a transitional regime to prevent a sudden halt to all support while designing a permanent replacement. After 18 months of preparation, the new system was approved in first reading on July 16, 2026.
Targeting Energy Sieves
Under the new regime, support will be reserved for properties with the worst energy performance ratings — known in French as “passoires énergétiques” (energy sieves). Homes with PEB (Performance Énergétique des Bâtiments) labels G or F must reach at least label D, while those with label E must achieve label C. As RTBF reported, this approach aims to maximize the impact of every euro of public money invested.
“With this new regime, we will now concentrate public resources where they have the most impact, that is, primarily on energy-inefficient homes,” said Cécile Neven (MR), Walloon Minister of Energy and Housing.
From Grants to Loans: The Rénopack and Rénoprêt
In a fundamental shift, the new system replaces multiple grant schemes with a single loan-based tool structured in two tracks:
- Rénopack: A zero-interest loan with a reduction of the amount to be repaid, available to households in income categories C1, C2, and C3
- Rénoprêt: A preferential-rate loan for higher-income households (category C4), landlord-owners, and co-ownership associations
The maximum loan amount for single-family homes has been raised to €75,000, up from €60,000, reflecting the real cost of comprehensive energy renovations.
Income-Based Support
Aid levels are calibrated to household income, with reductions of up to 50% of the amount to be repaid:
| Category | Income (€) | Interest Rate | Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Up to 28,900 | 0% | 50% |
| C2 | 28,900–41,100 | 0% | 40% |
| C3 | 41,100–67,100 | 0% | 15% |
| C4 | 67,100–122,800 | Variable | 0% |
A €5,000 reduction per dependent is applied to taxable income, and a 5% bonus is included for the use of eco-materials.
Mandatory Energy Audits and Budget Discipline
Applicants will be required to undergo a mandatory energy audit before accessing loans, with the audit itself eligible for financing. The government says this will help identify priority works, plan renovation stages, and avoid investments that complicate future interventions.
Crucially, the Walloon Government will set an annual budget envelope during budget conclaves to ensure financial sustainability and prevent the overruns that plagued the previous system. “When there is no more budget, there will be no more budget,” Minister Neven stated. “But at least we will avoid telling people that there is no more money for Walloons who are undertaking renovations.”
Looking Ahead
The new regime will be deployed progressively from October 1, 2026. A future Walloon Housing Agency (Agence wallonne de l’Habitation) is planned for launch by January 1, 2028, to pilot the full support system with enhanced territorial coverage.
Long-term renovation obligations are also on the horizon: from 2028, new property owners will be required to achieve progressively higher PEB standards, with all existing buildings needing to meet label B by 2050. The reform aligns with European Union targets under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD IV), which sets ambitious building renovation goals across member states.
“We are simplifying access to support, strengthening aid to households that need it most, and guaranteeing a financially sustainable framework,” Neven added. “We will turn the page on a system of grants that was too complex, too costly, and too ineffective.”
Reporting based on official Walloon Government press releases and RTBF coverage.