Repsol YPF

The Housing Department is to promote the renovation of old properties in Spain, since half of Spain’s properties are over 80 years old. Old buildings must be adapted to comply with the new regulations which encourage the use of non-pollutant materials and structures as well as energy efficient systems. Furthermore, unsafe elements which could cause risks and serious accidents, such as fires, water leaks and gas explosions, amongst other dangers, must be removed. 

Beatriz Corredor, the Housing minister, is currently working on the new 2009-2012 Housing Plan, which will be ready at the beginning of next year, according to her recent statement before parliament. This plan will endorse the building of state-subsidised housing, encourage renting and promote a renovation programme, Renove, that will award grants for property restoration projects. An investment of 800 million euros will be allocated to the latter area, which will subsidise the renovation of 500,000 buildings.

Although the draft of the plan which is to be submitted to parliament has not yet been published, it is estimated that grants for renovation work will include similar criteria to those which currently exist, in other words, in order to benefit from a grant your property must be a certain number of years old, your income must not exceed the value set by the government, and the alterations must affect structural elements of the building. 

If you are thinking about renovating your property, and it is more than fifteen years old, we recommend that you wait until the Housing Department’s new Renove plan is approved, as you may be entitled to a grant for the renovation work. In any case, these measures are regional in nature, and you would need to make enquiries at your regional Housing Department or local council. 

Top priorities

Renovating an old house involves many different elements, as such it is important that you are clear about which tasks are top priority. The structures, the insulation and soundproofing, the water, electricity and gas systems, and heating and air conditioning systems are the first areas to tackle. 

Make enquiries with different companies, consultancies and renovation specialists and ask about the need to include sustainable elements in each and every area. It is a good idea to find out about bioclimatic design, which uses the natural ability of the building and its materials to increase comfort levels. There are an increasing number of architecture studios in Spain that apply bioclimatic design principles, based on an exhaustive study of the building which is to be renovated. They look at all the key factors which may contribute towards reducing the environmental impact and reducing gas, water and electricity bills.

Bioclimatic architecture experts focus on energy efficiency (solar panels, orientation of the windows in order to capture as much heat as possible in winter and avoid it in the summer); on the use of non-pollutant and environmentally-friendly building, insulating and decorative materials; on the use of silicate paints; on incorporating low-consumption taps… They also promote designs which facilitate accessibility, such as levelling out floors, including doors which are big enough to allow a wheelchair through and adapting the bathroom for disabled people. 

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