Lorrentop is chairman of the board of directors of the association of co-owners (VME). 150 families live in the residential block on Charles De Costerlaan. After a number of discussions, 88 percent of the owners voted in favor of a thorough renovation, in order to meet the stricter climate requirements step by step.
“Obviously it’s a big investment. The planned facade renovation of the building will cost approximately four million euros. The city’s financial and technical advice has been a big help in convincing owners. Moreover, we can count on subsidies and interest-free loans,” says Sonja Lorrentop.
Halve CO2 emissions by 2030
The city of Antwerp wants to encourage residents of large outdated apartment buildings to adapt their building to the new climate requirements. Brabo I is one of the first projects to start work. In total, fifteen files have been started in Antwerp, representing 1,173 homes.
Sonja Lorrentop: “The renovation is good for the climate and the residents. With the support of the city, it must remain affordable for everyone.” — © Joris Herregods
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“Antwerp has many outdated, large apartment buildings that could use a climatic makeover. The climate benefit of these renovation projects is enormous. They ensure the financial value of the patrimony and help to achieve Antwerp’s climate goals,” says Alderman for the Environment Tom Meeuws (Vooruit).
By 2030, the city wants to at least halve CO2 emissions on its territory and be climate neutral by 2050. A quarter of the emissions in 2019 will be caused by households in Antwerp. In Antwerp, 71% of the homes are in a co-owned apartment building.
Join or sell anyway
Because two thirds of the owners of the apartment building on Linkeroever approved the facade renovation, work will start next autumn. The 12 percent who do not agree with the renovation will have little or no choice but to invest or sell their apartment.
“On the other hand, we have drawn up an individual financial plan for each owner. It concerns long-term investments, in which many people can rely on subsidies and interest-free loans,” says Britt Berghs, the renovation coach of the city of Antwerp.
This should ensure that the renovation is affordable for everyone. “This operation is an improvement for every owner and the value of the apartment increases,” continues the renovation coach. Sonja Lorrentop also believes in cooperation with the city.
“Our building is suffering from concrete rot. That shortcoming will also be addressed during the renovation and all terraces will also be renewed. Of course, for various reasons, there are people who don’t get involved in this story. We still want to convince them.”
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An average of thirty thousand euros
The average cost of the facade renovation per apartment is estimated at around thirty thousand euros. In Brabo I, sixty residents can apply for an Antwerp allowance for the renovation of their home.
That is a subsidy of approximately nine thousand euros per apartment. The rest of the amount must be paid by the owner himself or borrowed interest-free or not. Whether someone qualifies for an interest-free loan depends, among other things, on income.
The city of Antwerp gives priority to guiding and subsidizing people in apartment buildings with more than twenty homes and who are older than twenty years. “By tackling these buildings, we can make the biggest gains for the climate. Antwerp has six hundred such buildings, so do the math,” says Tom Meeuws.
After the facade renovation, it is the intention that other matters in the apartment building on Linkeroever will also be tackled. Including the pipes. “That will be done at a later stage to keep it financially viable for the owners. We will also be guided by the city and a renovation coach for the next steps,” said Sonja Lorrentop.
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