Buying an energy-efficient home? You could get paid for that
Buyers of energy-efficient properties are eligible for financial support over three years
A scheme to encourage the purchase of energy-efficient homes was relaunched on Tuesday.
The initiative promotes sustainable development by offering financial grants to those who purchase energy-efficient properties.
Justice and construction industry minister Jonathan Attard said the first edition of the scheme had been a success, with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) distributing nearly €200,000 in grants.
“Through this scheme, the government is sending a clear and strong message to the industry and to the market that the future of property in Malta is one that will be more efficient, more sustainable and more respectful of the environment,” he said.
Around 200 applications were submitted in the first edition, with roughly half deemed eligible.
Of those accepted, 50 per cent involved buyers of properties classified as Net Zero, meaning their homes generated more energy than they consumed. Their owners receive €3,000 annually over three years, for a total of €9,000.
The remaining eligible applicants purchased properties that were 20 per cent more energy-efficient than required by European standards. They are receiving €1,500 per year over three years, amounting to €4,500. First payments to both groups have already been issued.
The second edition of the scheme applies to Maltese and EU citizens who purchase a residential property between October 2025 and September 2026.
To qualify, properties must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating within the required thresholds, be residential, exclude fossil fuel boilers and comply with Technical Document F, a BCA design guideline.
Eligible applicants will receive either €3,000 per year for three years or €1,500 annually for three years, depending on the classification of their property.
Payments are subject to annual confirmation by the BCA, which may conduct inspections. If the property is transferred, remaining payments will stop.
Applicants found to have submitted false declarations will lose the grant and be barred from applying again for five years.
Applications can be submitted online through the BCA website.
In January of this year, the government also announced the Building and Construction Authority’s Irrinova Darek scheme. Under the scheme, the BCA will cover up to 90 per cent of costs for works that improve a home’s energy efficiency, through interventions such as replacing apertures with double-glazed windows, roof insulation, and replacing heating or air-conditioning systems with more energy-efficient options. The government will also cover the cost of installing skylights or similar interventions (which reduce the need for artificial lighting), water heaters, and shading devices, which reduce sunlight and therefore the heat entering a property.