European Property Owners’ Perspectives and Experiences on Building Renovation

The International Union of Property Owners (UIPI) has released a new publication expanding on results from a survey the organisation sent to property owners in Europe between July and December 2024. 

The survey aimed to better understand property owners’ experiences and attitudes toward building renovation, revealing that most respondents are open to energy renovations but face barriers in implementing these actions. 

Key Findings 

• A large majority of respondents (78%) recognise the importance of energy efficiency, but only around 13% have undertaken deep renovations that meet high energy performance standards.
• Many property owners have not undertaken deep energy renovations due to financial hurdles such as insufficient funds or support, and some questioned whether the investment pays off in the long term.
• Among those who have renovated, over a third did so without any public financial aid. For those who did receive support, tax deductions and direct subsidies were the most frequently used instruments.
• Only 55% of participants received technical guidance on energy renovations.
• Awareness of one-stop shops promoted through the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is particularly low, at just 11%.
• Respondents expressed cautious attitudes toward several EU-level mechanisms.
  • Nearly 60% oppose the idea of mandatory Minimum Energy Performance Standards
  • Nearly half of the respondents holding Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) questioned their reliability.
  • Knowledge of Building Renovation Passports remains limited across the board.

Read the publication to learn more details about these survey results. 

Source: International Union of Property Owners (UIPI)