Video series: ‘Sofa talks’ about property – tips on sustainable home improvements
This series sees experts at ABN AMRO answer questions from clients. On the sofa today: Judith van Summeren (Property Director, ABN AMRO) and Kees Adema (Wealth Planning Expert, ABN AMRO). In this episode, both experts zoom in on the topic of property and answer questions about making your home more sustainable. What grants are out there? And what are the smart ways to fund sustainable home improvements?
Will my property really be worth more if I make it more sustainable?
Judith: “While we can’t give any guarantees, we can say that homes with a better energy label sell faster and fetch a higher asking price. Interestingly, apartments in large cities that have a lower energy label, say F or G, are much more likely to lose value.”
What are the first steps to making my home more sustainable?
Kees: “Insulation, insulation, insulation. Installing seal strips or radiator foil are two relatively easy solutions that you can apply yourself. If you prefer a more professional approach, you could have thermal images taken of your home. They pinpoint where your home is losing heat, so you can take action in those places.”
Judith: “Sustainable home improvements are also a core part of our mortgage consultations. We use the Energy Saving Check to help clients see how energy-saving measures, such as solar panels or a heat pump, could have a positive effect on their property. We’ll check how much the clients could save on their energy bills, the payback periods and more. The Energy Saving Check paints a 360° picture, helping clients to make their home more sustainable.”
Kees: “This is crucial, given that the Dutch government has announced that gas prices will be much higher than electricity prices over the coming years. It’s a good idea to be aware of that and see what you can do now to make your home more sustainable.”
Which grants for sustainable home improvements are still available?
Kees: “The Dutch government wants to seriously incentivise sustainable home improvements over the coming years, so there are still loads of grants out there. They’re available at national, provincial and municipal level. Check Milieu Centraal’s website to see which ones are offered in your area. Combining a range of measures might even qualify you for a grant that covers up to 30% of the costs.
While solar panels aren’t eligible for grants, you pay no VAT on the purchase price. You also pay no VAT on installation costs if your solar panels are installed by an accredited fitter. If you install them yourself, you can’t claim back VAT.
Can I borrow money to fund sustainable home improvements?
“Absolutely. ABN AMRO offers the Duurzaam Wonen Hypotheek (Sustainable Home Mortgage) precisely for that purpose. We’ve recently extended the mortgage term from 15 to 30 years. That gives you longer to pay off the mortgage, meaning you benefit from lower monthly repayments. We also charge a much lower interest rate, to encourage clients to make their home more sustainable. The Dutch government is incentivising sustainable home improvements as well, having introduced new lending standards in 2024. If you buy a property with a C or D label, you can borrow an extra €5,000. If you buy a new-build property that’s super energy-efficient, you could borrow up to € 50,000 extra!”
