GRANT SCHEME FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE USE OF RES AND ENERGY SAVINGS IN DWELLINGS 2022-2023 - CATEGORY 1

• THE APPLICATION SHALL BE SUBMITTED BY THE PERSON WHO HAS PAID FOR THE INVESTMENT (in whose name the invoices must be issued). For CATEGORY 1, the applicant does not have to be the owner of the house or the person in whose name the electricity bill is issued.

• After the implementation of the investment, the average thermal transmittance (U-value) of the roof must not exceed 0,4 W/m²K. The documentation of the achievement of the required U-value is done by the examination of: (a) Calculation sheet of the average U-value (U) of the dwelling’s roof, signed either by an Energy Auditor of Class A or by a Qualified Expert, (b) the Signed declaration by the installer, (c) the content of the Invoices relating to the investment, and (d) any other information submitted on a case-by-case basis during the evaluation of the application.

• Each application must correspond to one dwelling and relate to the roof that forms part of the shell of the dwelling in question (i.e. the roof just above the house). It is understood that in the case of apartment buildings, each individual apartment is considered as one dwelling.

• Only one application can be submitted by each beneficiary and/or for each residence and/or for each investment.

• The dwelling on which the investment was made should be legally used as a residence and the electricity bill of the house should relate to house tariffs. Facilities on premises that are not legally used as residences may not be subsidized.

• The residences should not be rented by a legal entity and should not be used in the context of economic activity for a period of at least five (5) years from the date of submission of the application. It is clarified that houses rented from natural persons to natural persons are eligible.

• Only installations made by businesses (legal or natural persons) operating in the framework of their professional activity and for which the relevant invoices must be submitted are subsidised (e.g. installations made by the applicants themselves by presenting purchase invoices of materials/equipment are not subsidised).

• This Grant Scheme promotes -in addition- the implementation of actions included in the National Strategy for the Development of Mountain Communities. In this context, installations in houses falling within the mountain areas receive an increased sponsorship of 50%. It should be noted that mountain areas are defined solely on the basis of the postal code . The list of postal codes identifying mountain areas is given here.

• See paragraph 16 of the Grant Scheme (GR) regarding the possibility of implementing the investment through an Energy Service Company (ESCo).

• Value Added Tax (VAT) is not an eligible expense.

REGARDING THE RETROACTIVITY OF THE SCHEME:

• The Scheme has retroactive effect to ensure the smooth continuation of the previous Scheme of 2021 (see relevant Announcement 20/10/21). Investments made after 01/08/2021 are therefore eligible. Investments made before 01/08/2021 are not eligible.

  • The date of issuance of the tax invoice is considered as the date of realization of the roof thermal insulation investment (in case of multiple invoices the date of the first invoice is taken into account).
  • It is noted that, regardless of the retrospectiveness of this Grant Scheme, investments made before 20/12/2021, receive the grant amount provided in the respective Grant Scheme of 2021. 

• Indicative average time for completion of applications: 6 months. This information is provided non-binding on the basis of current conditions and provided that the application is submitted in full and no problems/deficiencies will be detected.

Please note that in order to be able to submit an "APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING", you must create an account in the system (in case you do not already have one). When creating an account you will be asked to attach in electronic form (scan), a copy of the identification card as follows:

• For citizens with Cypriot Citizenship: Copy of identity card
• For EU citizens: Certificate of registration of a Union citizen and his or her family members who are also Union citizens
• For third-country nationals: Alien Registration Card (ARC)

When submitting an "APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING" you will be asked to attach the following documents in electronic form (scan):

1. A recent electricity bill of the residence where the roof thermal insulation investment has been made. For CATEGORY 1 the bill does not have to be in the applicant's name.
2. A statement from your electricity supplier (EAC), indicating the date of first connection of the premises (which should be before 21.12.2007) (the statement is provided by the EAC - it is clarified that this is a different document from the electricity bill).
   Alternatively, applicants can submit official documents proving that the application for a building permit and/or urban planning permit was submitted before 21.12.2007 (e.g. a copy of the Building Permit and/or the Planning Permit and/or applications for their issuance).
3. Detailed Invoices relating to the roof thermal insulation investment, which should be issued in the name of the applicant:
   • see par. 15 of the Grant Scheme (GR) regarding the mandatory content and the requirements that the Invoices must meet
   • see par. 16 of the Grant Scheme (GR) regarding the implementation of investments through an Energy Service Company (ESCo).
4. A Declaration by the installer confirming the realisation of the thermal insulation, detailing the investment and certifying that it has been implemented. The implemented investment, as described in the Declaration, must meet the technical characteristics specified in the Calculation Sheet of the average U-value.
5. The Calculation Sheet of the average U-value of the dwelling’s roof, signed either by an Energy Auditor of Class A or by a Qualified Expert. The Calculation Sheet is prepared before the realisation of the thermal insulation works of the roof in order to determine the technical characteristics of the works that must be done in order to achieve for this roof the average thermal transmittance (U-value) required by the Scheme (below 0,4 W/m²K).

In case of "Approval with Reservation", the applicant will be asked to send by registered mail the following supporting documents in order to proceed with the process of payment of the grant:

(PLEASE DO NOT PROCEED WITH THE DISPATCH OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS IF YOU ARE NOT OFFICIALLY INFORMED BEFOREHAND THAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN "APPROVAL WITH RESERVATION")

1. The "Applicant Declaration Form", which will be sent through the electronic system to the applicant and will include – among others – all the basic information that the applicant himself/herself stated during the electronic submission of his/her application. The Declaration must bear the signature of the applicant.
2. Completed and signed the FIMAS Authorization, which must necessarily be accompanied by: 
3. A copy of part of the bank statement or a certificate from the Bank, showing the IBAN number of the account, in order to confirm the information declared in the FIMAS Authorization.

• Grant Scheme for the encouragement of the use of RES and Energy Savings in dwellings 2022-2023 (GR)

• Account Creation Guide (GR)
• Application Submission Guide (GR)
• List of Mountain Areas

• Declaration by the installer - submitted together with the "APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING"
• Calculation Sheet of the average U-value - submitted together with the "APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING"
• Declaration for Invoices that have not been issued in the name of the applicant – shall be submitted only if an invoice has been issued in a different name from that of the applicant (or to any other name other than the name of the applicant)

1. Who can apply for the Scheme?

Natural Persons who invest in the thermal insulation of the roof of an existing house have the right to submit an application. For CATEGORY 1 of the Grant Scheme, applicants do not need to be homeowners or have the electricity bill in their name. Each beneficiary can submit only one application.

2. Can I apply and then start implementing the investment?

No. The "APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING" is submitted AFTER the completion of the eligible investment.

3. Where can I find a Class A Energy Auditor or a Qualified Expert to complete the Calculation Sheet of the average U-value?

Access to the Register of Energy Auditors and Qualified Experts is provided through the website of the Energy Service.

4. Invoices have not been issued in my name. What can I do?

The name of the person to whom the invoices have been issued should be the same as the name of the applicant (without mentioning any other name). In the event that the invoices have been issued in a different name from that of the applicant or in case that along with the name of the applicant any other name is written, a relevant declaration must be submitted, which must be completed both by the person in whose name the invoices were (also) issued and by the applicant.

5. I don't have a bank account in my name. Can the sponsorship of my application be paid to a relative of mine?

No. The sponsorship is deposited in a bank account in which the applicant must be a beneficiary or co-beneficiary.

6. Can I get a grant for a house I rent?

Yes, as long as the house is rented from a natural person to a natural person. If the house is rented by a legal entity (e.g. company) it is not eligible for sponsorship. According to the provisions of the Scheme, "the residences should not be rented by a legal entity and should not be used in the context of economic activity for a period of at least five (5) years from the date of submission of the application".

7. Can I get a grant to invest in my store/ancillary building?

No. The property on which the investment will be made should be legally used as a residence and the electricity bill of the house should be related to house tariffs. Facilities on premises that are not legally used as residences (e.g. ancillary premises/shops/businesses) are not subsidized.

8. Can I get a grant for my house and my cottage?

Both the house and the cottage are eligible for sponsorship, as long as they exist legally and the electricity bill of the premises relate to house tarrifs. Note, however, that only one "APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING" can be submitted by each beneficiary.

9. I have invested in a new house. Can I apply?

No. Eligible are residences for which the application for a building permit and/or urban planning permit was submitted before 21.12.2007. 

10. During the submission of the "APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING" I forgot to attach some supporting documents or attached the wrong supporting documents. What can I do? 

After the final submission of the application, any modification and / or presentation of additional documents is not accepted. In case these documents are necessary for the purposes of examining the application, you will be contacted during the evaluation of the application.

11. Can I apply for CATEGORY 1 and any other CATEGORY of the Scheme?

Applicants of CATEGORY 1 can additionally apply for CATEGORY 3B of the Grant Scheme (installation of a Photovoltaic System in the homes of vulnerable electricity consumers). You can not apply for any of the other CATEGORIES of the Scheme (CATEGORIES 2 and 3A).