The Walloon Habitation grant scheme ends on 30 September 2026. From 1 October, regional support will run through two loans, Rénopack and Rénoprêt, reserved for the least energy efficient homes. What you still need to submit this week and how to prepare your audit.
On 30 September 2026, the Habitation grant scheme in Wallonia comes to a definitive end. From the following day, regional support for energy renovation will run through loans, rather than grants paid out item by item. If you are a homeowner with a project in mind, here is what you need to do right now, and what to prepare next.
What ends on 30 September 2026
The current scheme is a temporary one. The Walloon Government adopted it on 13 February 2025 and it came into force on 14 February 2025. It ends this week.
The official SPW (Service public de Wallonie) rule is very clear. Any grant application (audit and works), including the final invoice, must be submitted by 30 September 2026 at the latest.
In practical terms, this means:
- a grant can no longer be requested on the basis of works that are not completed and invoiced by that date;
- the current system of around 120 separate direct grants disappears on 30 September 2026;
- an application submitted before this deadline will be processed under the rules in force at the time of submission, even if processing continues after October.
Beware of a claim currently doing the rounds. Some suggest that an audit commissioned before 30 September would be enough to keep your grant entitlements for eight years. This is not what the official SPW page states, which requires the final invoice to be submitted before that date. If in doubt, rely on the official source rather than basing your budget on an interpretation.
Applications that can still be submitted this week
With just days left before the deadline, here is what can still be saved:
- your works are completed and invoiced: submit the works grant application without delay, via Mon Espace on the Wallonia portal;
- your home audit has been carried out and your works are finished: check that the audit grant has also been requested;
- you only have roof works: the auditor's visit is not compulsory for works relating to the roof and roof insulation, but the final invoice must still be submitted within the deadline.
A few pitfalls to avoid:
- an incomplete file slows everything down. Upload all supporting documents: invoices, certificates, audit report, tax assessment notice (avertissement-extrait de rôle).
- technical performance requirements must be met. Minimum thresholds apply, for example R ≥ 5.00 m²K/W for the roof, R ≥ 4.00 for the walls, Uw ≤ 1.50 for window frames.
- keep a record of your submission. Retain proof of filing.
If you already have a loan under way, rest assured. According to information circulated by local councils, this change does not affect 0% loans already taken out and registered before 1 October 2026.
Rénopack and Rénoprêt, the new framework from 1 October
The Walloon Government approved the broad outlines of the new scheme on 16 July 2026. It rests on two products.
- Rénopack: an interest-free loan combined with a reduction in the amount to be repaid, comparable to a grant. It will cover households in categories C1, C2 and C3.
- Rénoprêt: a loan at a preferential rate set according to the income category of the applicant household, reserved for people in income category C4, landlords, and joint ownership associations.
Some figures announced:
- the ceiling rises from £60,000 to £75,000 for a single family house;
- for private units, each dwelling could receive financing of up to £60,000, with household income not exceeding £122,800;
- a reduction of £5,000 per dependant will be applied to taxable income.
On the counter side, nothing changes immediately. The new scheme will rely on existing services (Guichet Énergie, Société wallonne du Crédit social, Fonds du Logement des familles nombreuses, Plateformes Locales de Rénovation Énergétique). If your family has three or more dependent children, your point of contact is the Fonds du Logement de Wallonie. For all other situations, the Société wallonne du Crédit social will process your application.
One element fundamentally changes the logic: the budget. Support will now operate through an annual envelope fixed in advance. In other words, a file ready early in the year will have more chance of success than one put together in a rush.
Finally, stay cautious about the details. The text adopted in July went through a first reading, and a second reading was scheduled for 17 September 2026 and could alter certain points, particularly amounts, ceilings and thresholds by income category. The exact reduction percentages for Rénopack will be set out in the implementing decrees.
Who is eligible, and who no longer is
This is the real break. The new scheme no longer funds isolated measures. According to the Service public de Wallonie Énergie, regional support will be reserved for projects targeting homes with an EPB (PEB) rating of G or F where the works will bring them up to at least rating D; or with a rating of E where the works will bring them up to at least rating C.
In practice:
- a 1960s house rated F, with poorly insulated roofing and original window frames, sits squarely within the target, provided the project raises it to at least rating D;
- a dwelling already rated C or D no longer appears to fall within the scope of regional support, subject to the final texts;
- simply replacing a boiler or a few window frames will generally not be enough: a coherent project that moves the dwelling up through the rating classes is required.
Other levers remain available, for example the 6% VAT rate for renovating homes over 10 years old (with exceptions for fossil fuel boilers) and municipal grants, which vary from one municipality to another.
Planning the home audit ahead to avoid losing out
Under the new scheme, the audit is not a formality. To access the loans, applicant households will be required to carry out an audit before starting works. The audit will be included in the list of eligible investments.
We recommend proceeding in this order:
- Know your starting point. Have your EPB (PEB) certificate drawn up or updated. The EPB certificate has been evolving in Wallonia since 1 September 2026. Your rating determines whether you fall within the E, F or G scope.
- Have the home audit carried out by an accredited auditor, before signing any quote.
- Aim for the right rating jump. The audit must show a realistic scenario for reaching D (from G or F) or C (from E). This is where the choice and sequencing of works really matter.
- Have the overall project costed. Precise quotes, with R values, Uw values, capacities and efficiencies, make analysis by the SWCS or FLW easier.
- Submit the loan application early, before the annual envelope is used up.
For a major renovation project, the audit is often not enough. A precise survey of the existing building, an architectural design that accounts for the building's constraints (damp, structural bridging, ventilation) and, where applicable, a planning permit under the CoDT (Wallonia's spatial development code) need to be factored into the timeline. It is best to launch these in parallel with the financing process.
Are you planning an energy renovation and wondering whether your home falls within the new scheme, or how to reach the rating you are aiming for? At STARC, our architects design coherent whole house renovations, from survey to site supervision. Optibim, our design office, handles the technical side: EPB (PEB), energy audits, special technical services and airtightness testing. Contact us to review your project and build a realistic works plan.
Frédéric Odent, director