2021 funding for barrier reduction in housing to start today

• KfW promotional funds of EUR 130 million
• Up to EUR 6,250 in grants to reduce barriers

The German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (BMI) set the promotional funds available for measures to reduce barriers for 2021 to EUR 130 million. EUR 100 million was available for this purpose in 2020; the funding was increased by a further EUR 50 million as part of the economic stimulus package. The grants can be applied for from KfW effective immediately.

Dr Ingrid Hengster, member of the KfW Group Executive Board: “KfW grants for barrier reduction have been very popular for several years. This is a welcome development because more and more people in Germany are investing in making their homes more comfortable and thus are able to stay in their familiar surroundings for a longer time.”

The BMI and KfW are promoting construction measures in residential buildings that reduce barriers in the existing building stock. Since 2009, nearly 500,000 housing units have been converted with the help of the funding, which has a commitment volume of EUR 4.1 billion. In 2020 alone, this figure amounted to 93,000 housing units with a funding volume of nearly EUR 300 million. Typical modernisation measures include the installation of a floor-level shower, the removal of doorsteps or the installation of lifts.

KfW provides grants for individual measures amounting to 10 per cent of the eligible costs (max. EUR 5,000). Anyone who converts their house to meet the “age-appropriate house” standard receives 12.5 per cent of the eligible costs (max. EUR 6,250) from KfW.

Private developers and tenants can submit their grant applications online in the KfW grant portal before the projects begin and quickly receive their funding approval.

Information on the funding opportunities is available at www.kfw.de/455-b (German only) or from the KfW infocentre using the free hotline +49 800 539 9002.