If you want to remodel in an age-appropriate way, you are entitled to various programs from KfW. Practically all conversion measures are eligible for subsidies. We have summarized below which grants and subsidies are available for your conversion to barrier-free living.
What is subsidized?
Barrier-free conversion. KfW subsidizes all conversion measures with the programs 159 and 455-B, whose goal is to reduce or eliminate barriers in living spaces (individual measures).
Alternatively, a complete conversion to the "age-appropriate house" standard (observe criteria!) eligible.
If non-residential spaces (commercial spaces after rezoning, attic conversion) are converted into barrier-free living spaces, the subsidy is also possible. If an existing residential building is divided in such a way that a new (additional) barrier-free residential unit is created, the subsidy can also be claimed.
Increasing security and comfort with restrictions. The subsidized measures also include all measures that increase the safety in living spaces for people with disabilities, facilitate orientation in the living spaces, and make life easier in everyday life. Smart home devices are also subsidized to a limited extent.
Burglary protection. With the program 159 (credit) are also measures for the burglary protection directly eligible, but not via the individual grant (program 455-B). For detailed information on all funding options for burglary protection measures, please read our article Burglary Protection: Funding.
Who can apply for the subsidy?
All private individuals. In principle, the use of the subsidy is open to all private individuals. It does not matter whether they are owners or tenants of a residential property (house, apartment). This promotion is not available for vacation homes and apartments, as well as for commercial properties.
Independent of age. It does not matter what age you are when you remodel to receive the subsidy. Young people (families) can also apply for funding if they convert their living space barrier-free.
WEGs (condominium owners' associations). Funding is also available for COEs from private individuals (Program 455-B, individual grant)
Every adult can apply for a subsidy for the conversion to accessibility
Subsidy via loan (program 159)
Subsidized loan. In Program 159, a low-interest loan (starting at 2.29% eff.), the subsidy is granted in the form of a repayment grant. The maximum possible loan amount is 50.000 EUR per completed housing unit.
Possible are an annuity loan (only interest payments in the first years, thereafter equal repayment) or a bullet loan (only interest payments, total repayment of the sum). The term of the bullet loan can be between 4 and 10 years. With the annuity loan, terms of between 4 and 30 years are possible.
Grant amount. 10 % of the eligible costs or. 12.5% of eligible costs for conversion to the "age-appropriate house" standard)
Application. Through your own bank as a lender, which then applies for the loan at KfW. Lending bank remains the own house bank.
Funding via individual grant (Program 455-B)
Individual grant as an alternative to the loan. Those who do not need a loan and can finance the conversion costs from their own funds can apply for a grant from KfW.
Grant amount. As with the loan option, the one-off subsidy amounts to 10% of the eligible costs or. 12.5 % of the eligible costs when converting to the "age-appropriate house" standard.
Maximum grant amount. The maximum grant amount – analogous to the loan variant – is 5.000 EUR or. 6.250 EUR.
Application. The grant must be applied for in the KfW grant portal (for several measures a collected application), then the funding commitment must be waited for. Afterwards, one's own identity must be proven via the SCHUFA identity check. Once this has been done, the work can begin.
After completion of the work, the total amount of the work can be entered in the grant portal and the corresponding invoices uploaded, the grant is then instructed. In the case of conversion to the "age-appropriate house" standard, the "Confirmation of implementation" form must also be uploaded (to be confirmed by the specialist company). Subsequently the subsidy is transferred.
Burglary protection measures. Burglary protection measures can be funded via a separate individual grant (program 455-E). Detailed information on the promotion of burglary protection measures can be found in our article Burglary protection promotion.
Funding conditions
Specialist companies are obligatory. All conversion measures must be carried out by specialist companies. Predefined minimum technical requirements must be met.
Only future measures. Measures that have already been started or completed are not eligible for funding.
Examples of eligible measures
Funding area Ways and means of access. Widening of paths, removal of steps, facilitation of access to the building itself, to the garage and to seating and play areas as well as to motor vehicle parking spaces, also roofing of motor vehicle parking spaces
Funding area entrances. Increasing the movement area in the entrance area, making entrances and apartment entrances barrier-free, installing a roof or a vestibule in the entrance area
Support for stairs and steps. Installation or improvement of an elevator, installation of stair lifts or platform lifts (all designs), installation of ramps, securing stairs (z. B. additional handrails)
Stairlifts are eligible for subsidies
Funding for access and movement barriers. Change room layout (move walls), widen doorways, remove thresholds, add or open up balconies.
Bathroom subsidy area. Enlarge bathroom or rearrange sanitary objects, install floor-level shower, modernize sanitary objects (barrier-free or. barrier-free equipment), install bathtub lift
Funding area. Installation or expansion of age-appropriate assistance systems (doors, windows, roller shutters, heating, lighting, air conditioning), automatic control of heating and lighting (also smart home applications), replacement of operating elements to age-appropriate designs (larger switches, easier-to-operate door handles), installation or conversion of intercom systems, installation of support handles and grab bars, improvement of orientation through additional lighting
With at least three residential units in the house. In addition, measures in the wider residential environment to promote paths and access, installation or expansion of common areas and conversion to a multigenerational house.
Costs for subsidized measures
If you need an overview of the costs of individual barrier-reducing measures or renovation measures, you will find detailed information on this in many of our cost articles.
The following is a selection of commonly sought after measures. Just click on the link to go to the respective article.
- Accessible bathroom: cost
- Floor-level shower: cost
- Stairlift: Costs
- Elevator: Costs
- Disabled elevator: costs and prices
- Bath lift: Costs
- Converting a bathtub into a shower; costs
- Wall breakthrough: costs
- Install front door (including handicapped accessible): Costs
- Replacing door frames: Cost
Possible combinations
Additional funding from other agencies. In the case of a person with a care level in the household, additional funding can be provided by the care insurance fund for individual measures with up to 4.000 EUR will be made.
Double funding is excluded, d. h. the same measure cannot be subsidized by KfW and the nursing care insurance at the same time. However, a combination of both subsidies for different measures is possible (z. B. Bathroom conversion: KfW -. Stairlift: care insurance).
In addition to long-term care insurance, subsidies are also available from other agencies (accident insurance fund, various pension offices, employers' liability insurance association, social welfare offices, and possibly also the employment agency or integration office). If a restriction is the result of an accident, the Employer's Liability Insurance Association or the Accident Insurance Fund are the right people to contact for additional subsidies. Pension offices are the right people to contact if neither nursing care nor accident insurance is available. In the case of restrictions due to military service or war injuries, contact the War Victims' Welfare Office. Severely disabled persons can only turn to the integration office. If none of the aforementioned institutions will pay for your studies, you can also turn to the Social Welfare Office.
Combination with renovation funding. In some cases, the subsidy for the conversion can also be combined with a subsidy for renovation measures (KfW programs 261 and 262, BAFA subsidy) or, if necessary, with a subsidy for the purchase of an apartment (program 124, home ownership program).
You can find more information about the renovation subsidy, the subsidy conditions and the subsidy amount in our article Subsidy for thermal insulation.
KfW's home ownership program offers a low-interest loan starting at 3.45% eff. For the purchase or construction of owner-occupied houses or apartments by natural private individuals.