You bought a house in Andalucia at a good price, imagining long lunches in the sunshine and a cheaper way of life. What you perhaps did not bargain for was how cold a Spanish home can get in winter.
Poor insulation, draughty windows and tiled floors can make some properties surprisingly uncomfortable when temperatures drop. Add the cost of electricity and other fuels, and you may start wondering whether your Spanish property was quite the bargain you thought it was.
There is now a potential helping hand for homeowners looking to make their properties warmer and more energy-efficient. The Junta de Andalucia has just opened a €20.77 million funding programme for improvements to homes and residential buildings, including energy-saving measures and renewable-energy installations.
Andalucia opens new home energy grants
Applications opened at on October 22 under a programme administered by the Agencia Andaluza de la Energia. The funding is part of Andalucia’s wider project to reduce energy consumption and improve the efficiency of existing buildings.
For qualifying residential projects, the standard incentive is 50 per cent of eligible investment. That figure can rise to 65 per cent when additional conditions are met, including certain renewable-energy measures.
The programme is separate from the Spanish Government’s €7 billion State Housing Plan for 2026–2030, approved in April. That national plan includes funding for renovation and energy efficiency, with implementation involving the autonomous communities. The new Andalucian funding provides a specific application route for eligible energy-related projects. Homeowners can read our earlier guide to Spanish government renovation grants for homeowners and expats, which explains the wider national housing-plan proposals.
What improvements could qualify?
The Andalucian programme covers qualifying work designed to improve a property’s energy performance. This can include improvements to a building’s thermal envelope, such as insulation, and upgrades to heating, cooling, hot-water and lighting installations.
Renewable-energy installations are also covered under a separate category, including eligible solar technology and other approved systems. The work must meet the scheme’s technical requirements. For residential energy-efficiency projects, the improvements must raise the building’s energy rating by at least one letter, so homeowners should check the rules before ordering work or committing money.
The programme is not a general home-makeover fund. A new kitchen, bathroom or decorative refurbishment would not qualify simply because it forms part of a larger renovation. The official Junta de Andalucia energy-efficiency grants announcement explains the eligible categories and funding conditions.
Can British expats apply?
Foreign homeowners should check their individual circumstances before assuming they qualify. The programme covers citizens and a range of other eligible applicants, including communities of property owners, but the relevant conditions depend on the type of applicant and project. A gestor well-versed in property-related issues, should be able to help with this.
Owners of properties in Spain who live there permanently (padrón and all) should check the requirements with the scheme administrator. British homeowners who use their Andalucian properties only for holidays should not assume that owning a Spanish home automatically makes them eligible.
There are also minimum incentive amounts. For the relevant residential energy-efficiency categories, the minimum grant request is €10,000, while the minimum for the specified renewable-energy category is €6,000. These are minimum incentive amounts, not simply minimum renovation budgets.
When is the deadline?
Applications are being accepted online through the official Andalucia energy grants application website. The deadline is September 30, 2027, unless the funding is exhausted sooner and the call closes. Eligible individuals and public entities not carrying out an economic activity may also apply for certain works already under way, provided they did not begin before May 1, 2025. Different rules apply to businesses and other beneficiaries.
For homeowners facing another winter in a chilly Spanish property, the scheme could offer an opportunity to improve comfort and reduce energy consumption. The first step is to check eligibility, establish which work qualifies and obtain advice before committing to a project.