Since 2023, the Estonian state has allocated approximately 275 million euros from European funds to renovate apartment buildings. As a result, living conditions will improve for an estimated 32,000 people across the country.

Former Minister of Infrastructure Vladimir Svet emphasized that Estonians have a strong and growing desire to renovate their homes. He highlighted that special attention to the Ida-Viru region has boosted renovation activity there and expressed hope that renovation will also pick up on the islands. According to the former minister, this support not only improves people’s quality of life but also contributes to the development of Estonia’s construction market and creates thousands of jobs. With co-financing from apartment associations, the total investment volume reaches 435 million euros.

Taniel Vain, head of apartment association support at the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS), noted that the call for applications opened in October last year, totaling 175 million euros, is the largest ever. Some funding decisions are still pending, but already 175 apartment buildings have received support. Among those are heritage-protected and historically valuable buildings, large buildings with more than 100 apartments, and even entire neighborhoods where multiple buildings are being renovated at once.

In addition to grants, EIS also offers renovation loans for housing associations whose projects are not financed by banks or are offered unfavorable conditions. Taniel Vain stressed that the most energy-efficient result is achieved through full renovation, which the grant is designed to support. However, the loan provides an opportunity to carry out the most urgent work.

EIS has made funding decisions for a total of 365 apartment associations. In the 2023 nationwide call, about 160 projects were supported with 80 million euros, and nearly 50 renovated buildings are already completed or nearing completion. In 2024, two regional calls in Ida-Viru have funded 32 more projects.

The largest number of supported associations are in Harjumaa (49), Tartumaa (46), and Viljandimaa (36). Applications can still be submitted in regions such as Hiiumaa, Saaremaa, Põlvamaa, and Valgamaa, as well as for large apartment buildings. A new 10 million euro call is also open for Ida-Viru housing associations.

According to Vladimir Svet, over half a billion euros from various EU funds have been allocated for building renovations in Estonia until 2026. He hopes this kind of stability for apartment associations and the construction sector will continue in the long term. EIS also provides guarantees for associations considered higher risk by banks. In 2024, 36 guarantee agreements were signed, backing loans worth 12 million euros—resulting in improved living conditions for residents in 36 more apartment buildings.