According to Milieu Centraal, there are three reasons why you’d benefit from making your apartment more sustainable:
"}},{"componentType":"productFeatures","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/fc0dee3c-0a34-4623-a0e3-afd9efaea961/oneviewjym","type":"image","width":783,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/4414da2508581023/original/oneviewjym.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"highlighted":false,"items":[{"body":"Your energy use can go down"},{"body":"The value of your apartment may go up, because your energy label could improve"},{"body":"Your apartment could become more comfortable to live in, especially if you’re behind on maintenance"}]},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"What you can do yourself"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"There are ways to save energy in your flat that don’t require HOA permission. But you should always check your HOA’s governing documents (Dutch) just in case - the deed of division, for instance.
"}},{"componentType":"accordion","accordionList":[{"title":"Discover Milieu Centraal’s general tips on what you can do yourself","richBody":{"value":"
Find more tips here (Dutch)
"}}]},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Together with your HOA"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Most residential buildings have a Homeowners’ Association. The HOA is responsible for the shared parts of the building, including the exterior (such as the roof, walls, floors and often the window frames). Any improvements to these areas - like making them more sustainable and future‑proof - are usually arranged through the HOA. So you do this together.
It’s always good for somebody to take charge and advocate for improvements. Ideally, they’d be able to communicate their ideas with enthusiasm in order to bring key HOA members on board.
For energy‑saving measures in the shared parts of the building, a (qualified) majority of all owners often needs to approve. Additional requirements may also apply. Decisions like these are usually made during a general members’ meeting (GMM or ‘ALV’ in Dutch).
Learn more about how GMMs are organised and how HOAs work here (Dutch).
"},"alignedImage":{"position":"right","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/28305b92-4e13-424a-8ac7-8e915ee46c3e/Four-friends-laugh-and-play-a-card-game-on-the-balcony-while-touching-hands-on-the-table","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/1fff0179fc410c41/original/Four-friends-laugh-and-play-a-card-game-on-the-balcony-while-touching-hands-on-the-table.jpg","extension":"jpg"}},{"componentType":"accordion","accordionList":[{"title":"Work with your HOA to save energy","richBody":{"value":"Some common measures to consider:
Discover more ways to save energy at Milieu Centraal (Dutch).
"}}]},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"5 steps to make your building more sustainable with your HOA"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Interested in working with your HOA to make your apartment more comfortable and save energy? Here’s a five-step plan you can follow.
Source: Steps to make your HOA more sustainable | Verbeterjehuis (Dutch).
Set improvement goals together with other apartment owners, so you’re all aligned. It’s also important to understand the current status of the HOA - finances, maintenance needs, existing issues, organisation and applicable rules.
"}},{"title":"Step 2: Energy advice","richBody":{"value":"Explore which energy saving measures your HOA could take, and how much they might save - such as insulation, glass insulation, solar panels and heating. You could also hire a qualified advisor (Dutch) to carry out an energy assessment
Your HOA can also have a sustainable long‑term maintenance plan (Dutch) drafted.
Now is also the time tot assess if your HOA is able to fund the measures and any experts involved. Options may include the reserve fund, subsidies, a loan from the National Heat Fund or local municipality, a one‑time contribution or a gradual increase in monthly service fee.
"}},{"title":"Step 3: Detailed research","richBody":{"value":"
Time to work out the details together with experts in construction, energy and legal matters. You’ll create a plan based on a cost calculation. This plan also includes a design and budget, and can be shared with your HOA. Then, the GMM decides on the next steps to take.
"}},{"title":"Step 4: Plan and quotes","richBody":{"value":"Get quotes and compare them.
Milieu Centraal recommends requesting several and choosing suppliers that have experience working with HOAs. Again, the GMM makes the final decision.
"}},{"title":"Step 5: The works starts","richBody":{"value":"During and after the work, the HOA still has responsibilities - such as communication with experts and residents, planning and checking the construction work.
"}}]},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"Once the work is finished","richBody":{"value":"Some of your neighbours will be on board with making energy saving improvements right away, while others won’t be as keen. Good communication will help create support.
Milieu Centraal has listed a few tips (in Dutch) on how to build support within your HOA.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Subsidies and funding"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"If your HOA has plans to make the building more energy efficient, you can work out how to fund the improvements together - through the reserve fund, a one‑time contribution or a structural increase in service charges. You may also be eligible for subsidies and/or a loan. Find a clear overview of all available schemes and leans for HOA’s at Energiesubsidiewijzer (Dutch).
"}},{"componentType":"accordion","accordionList":[{"title":"SVVE Subsidy Scheme for HOAs","richBody":{"value":"Is your HOA planning energy saving improvements like insulation or a heat pump? You may be eligible for the SVVE scheme. You can apply for the following:
The National Heat Fund offers an attractive loan for HOAs that want to make energy saving improvements The fund was established by the Dutch government together with several banks, including ING.
"}},{"title":"HOA Member Loan","richBody":{"value":"If your HOA pays for the energy saving improvements with the ‘Energiebespaarlening’, your monthly HOA service fee may increase.
Do you have a low income and is it difficult to afford this increase? You may qualify for an HOA Member Loan from the National heat Fund.
This loan is meant for HOAs with up to seven apartments. It can be used to fund solar panels and insulation, as well as maintenance like a new roof or balcony repairs.
"},"textLinks":[{"url":"https://svn.nl/financieel-adviseurs/zakelijke-lening/stimuleringslening/kleine-vve/","text":"Learn more about Business Loan for Small HOAs (Dutch)"}]},{"title":"Future Proof Maintenance Fund for HOAs (SVn)","richBody":{"value":"This maintenance fund is available for HOAs with eight apartments or more. They can apply if they have overdue maintenance carried out together with sustainability improvements to the building.
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel - get tips from apartment owners who’ve already made energy saving improvements. Check out Chantal and Ingrid’s story, or Martijn’s. They worked with their HOA to make their building more sustainable.
"}},{"componentType":"linkList","iconTitle":{"title":"More about sustainable living"},"textLinks":[{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/sustainable-living/financing-sustainable-renovation","text":"Financing"},{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/sustainable-living/government-subsidies","text":"What subsidies are available?"},{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/current-mortgage-rates/the-energy-label-and-your-mortgage-interest-rate","text":"The energy label and your mortgage interest rate"},{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/sustainable-living/energylabels-for-homes","text":"Energy labels explained"},{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/your-mortgage/building-fund-account","text":"How does a building fund work?"},{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/mortgage-types/buying-a-sustainable-house","text":"Mortgage for a sustainable home"},{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/sustainable-living/more-green-around-the-house","text":"More green around the house"},{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/sustainable-living/home-battery","text":"Home battery"}]}]}}}