The 2013 Housing Plan promotes rehabilitation

The new law for dwellings recently passed by the government for 2013-2016 actively encourages restoration and urban renewal.

Statistics announced by the Minister for Development, Ana Pastor, reveal the existence of more than five million dwellings of more than  fifty years old and in bad condition. These statistics point out the need for improvement in existing dwellings, and the up-dating of the quality of both  energy-supply and accessibility.

Of the seven constituent programs of the new  plan, the fourth and fifth refer to restoration of buildings constructed prior to 1981,  and to urban renewal.  In these, it is stipulated that the maximum quantity payable in active grants cannot go above  35% of the pre-estimate, or, in the case of improved accessibility, not more than 50%,  and fixes a payable maximum of 11,000 Euros per dwelling.

The sixth programme refers to the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Report (IEE),  which puts an end to the now defunct Technical Inspections of Buildings for buildings of more than 50 in existence, and, as well as the information referring to conservation of  buildings, it also includes accessibility and energy efficiency.  The minimum estimated period is 15 years, which may be modified by each community or city council that decides to shorten the time periods in question.
From the first of June, 2013, it will be obligatory to present buyers or renters of dwellings for periods of more than five months with a certificate of energy efficiency.  For this purpose, dwellings will be classified as A (minor energy consumption), and G, and also includes recommendations for improvement of efficiency  and  energy-saving.