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The renovation of multi-apartment buildings in Europe is a critical component of the continent’s climate strategy. While the “Renovation Wave” aims to double the annual energy renovation rate, a major challenge lies in the proportion in the building stock and complexity of multi-apartment buildings, particularly those held by multiple private owners. These buildings face unique barriers to large-scale, deep energy renovations.

This complexity results from several factors. Condominiums involve multiple stakeholders with varying needs and financial capacities. The decision-making process is governed by national and regional/local laws that often require a qualified majority or even a unanimous vote for significant, costly renovations, which can lead to deadlocks. Additionally, Condominium Associations (CAs) often lack the technical expertise and financial capacity to manage such a large-scale project.

Significant financial and economic barriers also exist. Deep energy renovations are expensive, and the initial investment is a significant barrier for many co-owners. Individual owners may have limited access to favourable financing options, and the “split-incentive” dilemma, where the owner pays for the renovation but the tenant benefits from lower energy bills, creates a disincentive for landlords.

Furthermore, there are notable technical and informational gaps. Co-owners and CAs often lack the necessary technical knowledge to understand the complexities of a deep renovation. The process requires the coordination of multiple actors, and this fragmented value chain can lead to a lack of trust and inefficiencies. Homeowners may also be hesitant to invest due to a lack of credible information on the expected energy savings and the return on investment.

To overcome these barriers, a new approach is needed. This is where the concept of Integrated Home Renovation Services (IHRS), also called One-Stop Shops (OSS), becomes critical. These services act as a single, trusted point of contact that guides homeowners and condominium associations through the entire renovation journey. An effective IHRS for condominiums would provide specific support by facilitating the decision-making process, streamlining financial solutions, and offering technical and logistical support. This is in line with the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2024), which foresees the mandatory EU-wide development of One-stop shops for the energy performance of buildings (EPBD Article 18).

The LIFE-CondoReno project developed a methodology to evidence the value of Integrated Home Renovation Services for condominiums, while evidencing this value during the development of IHRS for condominiums in cities like Antwerp, Mechelen, and Ostende, and for market actors in the Netherlands and Flanders. These experiences have led to specific recommendations that are relevant to share for assessment by policymakers and aspiring IHRS.

The recommendations presented are resulting from a robust methodology and tools developed and tested during the project’s decision-making processes. They also stem from engaging with stakeholders and co-creating the IHRS, as well as from rigorous evaluations using both qualitative and quantitative survey methods. The experiences gained through national learning networks and advisory boards, alongside insights from international CondoReno workshops and EU sister-projects, feed into the development of innovative pathways for the creation and multiplication of successful IHRS business models.

This report synthesises these findings, highlighting the need for specific, targeted support mechanisms to unlock the vast potential of multi-apartment building renovations. These recommendations can feed into the development of eco systems and pathways to facilitate the creation and multiplication of successful IHRS business models both at national and European level.