Minister Keijzer sees good reasons to make existing homes more sustainable right now. Due to rising and volatile energy costs, pressure on households in poorly insulated homes, and dependence on fossil energy, action is needed. Sustainability increases the resilience of the Netherlands, raises the value of homes and commercial properties, and contributes to a healthy living environment for future generations.

Now that the rent freeze will not go ahead, housing corporations continue to focus on making social rental homes more sustainable. This can lower the fixed costs for many people, especially now that housing corporations are not charging rent increases for insulation. The agreement is that housing corporations will make all homes with energy labels E, F, or G more sustainable by 2028. They are already on track: in 2022 there were still 247,400 homes with a poor energy label. In 2023 this decreased to 180,700, and in 2024 there are still 142,900.

Minister Keijzer also sees opportunities for homeowners and homeowners associations (VvE’s). Municipalities have received funds to set up local insulation approaches for these target groups. This actively supports residents – especially low-income households – with advice, financing, and subsidies. This is gradually beginning to show results: in the first quarter of this year, 20,000 homes were insulated, compared to 8,000 at the end of 2024. Of these, 1,600 were tackled through do-it-yourself insulation. Compared to last year, more municipalities are also actively working on implementation. For the third and final round, 340 out of 342 municipalities requested more funds. To achieve the goal of 750,000 insulated homes by 2030, a significant acceleration is needed. Therefore, support for municipalities is being strengthened.

Also at the national level, powerful measures are being implemented to make sustainability feasible and affordable for broad target groups:

• The investment subsidy for sustainable energy and energy savings (ISDE) was awarded over 205,000 times in 2024 for 210,000 insulation measures and 90,000 heating options (such as heat pumps).
• The Subsidy Scheme for Sustainability of Homeowners Associations (SVVE) helped more than 580 VvE’s with subsidies in 2024.
• The National Heat Fund offers interest-free loans to homeowners with low or middle incomes, reaching more people with lower incomes who were previously not engaged in sustainability. Last year, nearly 30,000 households utilized the National Heat Fund.
• There are subsidy schemes for private landlords (SVOH) and social real estate (DUMAVA).

These instruments demonstrate how financial incentives and accessible loans broaden the action perspective for sustainability. They support homeowners, VvE’s, social and private landlords, and institutions such as schools and care facilities. A good energy label is an important starting point. From 2030, a new calculation method will better align with actual energy consumption.

Although the benefits are clear, the sustainability of buildings does not happen automatically. Grid congestion, staff shortages, and the rollout of heat networks are slowing progress. The government is committed to addressing these bottlenecks. More attention is needed for the sustainability of rental homes by private landlords and VvE’s. The goal remains: to heat every building emission-free by 2050.