Hello Sebastian,
In 2022, the consequences of the war in Ukraine were felt, with a double increase in the prices of energy and materials for works. If the question of the energy renovation of real estate has become more important with this crisis, the question of reconstruction has also arisen. Isn’t it better to demolish old houses to build new ones that are more energy efficient?
Energy efficiency is now at the heart of all thinking
“It’s the 2022 energy price hike that has made the issue of energy efficiency in real estate that much more pressing. The question already existed before but we were not obliged to ask it”, recalls Renaud Grégoire, notary in Wanze and spokesperson for Notaire.be
You should know that, in recent years, a large part of the Belgian housing stock has been very little renovated. “You may have bought a house 10 years ago and done two or three things. You’ve renovated enough not to knock the house down, but not everything has been redonepoints out Renaud Grégoire. You have to understand that at some point, the problem will arise more widely for people of a certain age who no longer have the courage to do work”.
Rebuilding will be a better investment in the long run
For this notary, it will cost less in the long term to rebuild everything: “We find ourselves in many situations today, where, for example, people have inherited a house. They asked an architect how much a complete renovation would cost. It can sometimes reach 500,000 euros. They are then advised to tear down and rebuild. ”
This situation obviously applies to goods of poor energy quality. But the calculation becomes more complicated if renovation work has already been carried out in the past. “If you have a property that only needs to be insulated on the outside, but the roof was redone 5 or 10 years ago and the overall insulation of the floor is not bad, you may need to spend 40 000 euros, but you’re not going to tear down the house for that, rationalizes Renaud Grégoire. On the other hand, if the property is of poor energy quality, the calculation as a whole is obvious: it is better to rebuild. ”
If the person has the means, he even advises to rationalize the ground, that is to say, to consider building two houses on a plot of land which previously had only one. “Today, many people no longer want to have gardens of 20 acreshe says. We went to 5 or 6 ares, on average. ”
Renovation spreads the cost over time
For financial reasons, it is not an option for many people to demolish a property and rebuild. The renovation gives them the possibility of spreading the cost over time, since they can carry out the work as they go along. Another advantage of renovation is that owners can benefit from a 6% VAT, while it is 21% for construction. “It should also be remembered that with a new construction, you absolutely have to redo the entire interior of the house, such as the upholstery or other, while this is not the case in an existing property.”, reminds Jean-Louis Van Marcke, managing director of Bobex, a website for comparing quotes from construction and renovation companies.
The platform has conducted a study which shows that the energy crisis is pushing Belgians to build and renovate differently to reduce their energy consumption. In September, there was a 195% growth in demand for solar panels and an almost 400% increase in roof insulation demands. Sustainable sectors are popular (+100 to 200%) while so-called “aesthetic” renovations have fallen by 30% compared to the same period in 2021.
It is advisable to start with the roof
If you also want to renovate your house, and you don’t know what order of priority to give to your work, Jean-Louis Van Marcke recommends giving priority to the roof: “Coating is important as well as insulation. This is becoming practically mandatory now if you want to resell a house, since EPB standards have a direct impact on your credit. After the roof, it’s time to focus on how you heat your home. Is your boiler recent enough? Then you have to look at the frames and make sure you have double glazing. Then after we can go very far. You can insulate the floors or walls by adding a facade to your house, for example. ”
Whether you opt for renovation or reconstruction, notary Renaud Grégoire insists on the importance of calculating well and making rational decisions. This therefore sometimes involves demolishing a property. “Often, it is necessary to rationalize this reflection. Those who do not do it, the bank will do it for them because it will increasingly take into account the PEB and the fact that you will have to carry out energy work. Generally, it will not refuse a loan, but it will ask, for example, that you put 30,000 euros in addition to your own funds.. ”
Construction: when 2023 forces us to reinvent ourselves! – The Future (lavenir.net)