Property owners in the Czech Republic seeking to benefit from the “Repair the House After Grandma” program’s generous grant of up to one million Czech crowns for home insulation must meet certain eligibility criteria. Under the program, only individuals who own a maximum of one permanently inhabited property will qualify for state funding. Property owners with multiple houses or apartments will not be eligible.

Lucie Ješátková, spokesperson for the Ministry of the Environment, confirmed this requirement, stating that applicants must own only one property designated for permanent residence to qualify for a grant from the program.

Ondřej Charvát from the Ministry’s press department clarified that this restriction does not apply to individuals who own properties like cottages not designated for permanent residence.

The “Repair the House After Grandma” program, which aims to support home insulation and energy-saving measures, is set to launch in September. The exact launch date will be announced shortly.

The introduction of an “ownership test” to prevent wealthy individuals from accessing these grants was advocated by the coalition of the TOP 09 and STAN parties. The test ensures that individuals who own multiple properties are excluded from the program.

Tomáš Tesař, Deputy Minister of the Environment for TOP 09, emphasized the party’s commitment to this principle, stating that the ownership test was their main requirement from the start.

Lukáš Vlček, First Deputy Chairman of STAN, highlighted the importance of ownership tests in state grant policies, both for social transfers and investment grants.

While stringent criteria apply, including the commitment to remaining the property owner and residing in the property for the next ten years, the “Repair the House After Grandma” program provides the opportunity for upfront payment of funds to support energy-saving measures, making it accessible for households that may not have saved up sufficient funds. The program also allows applicants to request support for additional measures such as photovoltaics or a heat pump, potentially exceeding the one-million-crown limit.

Further details regarding the declaration and monitoring of property ownership to prevent circumvention of the one-property rule are expected to be provided in the coming days.

Article by Prague Forum