Owner-occupied house
Single-family and two-family houses owned by private individuals. The roadmap is used to plan the order of works over several years and to budget the individual steps.
Individual renovation roadmap (iSFP)
The individual renovation roadmap (individueller Sanierungsfahrplan, iSFP) documents the energy condition of a residential building and sets out a coordinated sequence of modernisation measures. It gives owners a basis for their decisions and is the prerequisite for higher funding rates when the measures are carried out later.
Scope and purpose
The individual renovation roadmap is a standardised advisory tool of the German federal government. It is prepared by an energy consultant approved for the federal funding programmes and follows a fixed structure. It is based on an on-site survey of the building and an energy balance of its current condition.
From this balance, a sequence of coordinated measures is derived. The coordination is needed because the measures affect one another: insulating the external wall changes the heat load, a new heating system changes the permissible flow temperature, and replacing windows without considering the installation plane can cause structural damage. The roadmap sets out in which order and to which target value each building component is dealt with.
For each step, the iSFP states the expected costs, the savings in final energy and the funding programmes that may apply. It can be set out as a complete renovation in one go or as a series of individual steps over several years.
If a specific construction project is already due, the roadmap is focused on it and provides technical support for the decision at hand: which build-up of the building component is suitable, what consequences it has for the other components and the building services, and which funding route fits. Advice before a construction project is therefore usually given through a roadmap focused accordingly.
Who it is for
The roadmap is prepared for the building, not for the individual flat. Depending on the ownership structure, the commissioning, the effort needed to reach agreement and the funding route differ.
Homeowners' association
The homeowners' association (Wohnungseigentümergemeinschaft, WEG) commissions the roadmap jointly. It provides the basis for the resolution at the owners' meeting and for allocating the costs according to co-ownership shares.
Portfolio owners
If an owner holds several buildings, the roadmap helps set priorities within the portfolio: which building ties up which investment volume, and where the funding rate is highest.
Planning to buy a house? An assessment is possible before the notary appointment; the subsidised roadmap follows once the purchase contract is signed. More on the page Energy advice before buying a house.
Process
From commissioning to handover usually takes five to ten working days. The time needed depends on how quickly the existing building documents are available and, for associations, on the meeting schedule.
- 1
Initial consultation
We clarify the building type, ownership structure, measures already planned and the time frame. On this basis you receive a quote.
- 2
Funding application for the consultation
The consultation itself is subsidised. You submit the application to BAFA (Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control) before the service is provided; I prepare the required information and guide you through the portal.
- 3
On-site survey
Recording of component build-ups, building services and consumption data. Review of existing plans, thermal insulation certificates and energy bills.
- 4
Energy balance
The building is modelled in a calculation model according to DIN V 18599, and the current condition is balanced as the reference for all variants.
- 5
Sequence of measures
Development and comparison of the variants by investment, savings, funding rate and building-physics compatibility.
- 6
On-site results meeting
The results are explained at the building, so open questions can be settled directly at the component concerned. For associations, the results can be presented at the owners' meeting on request.
What you receive
You receive the roadmap in the format prescribed by the federal government, consisting of one document for the overview and one document for implementation.
- Description of the current condition with component build-ups, U-values and key figures of the building services
- Energy balance of the building according to DIN V 18599 in its initial condition
- Sequence of measures with target values for each component, coordinated with the planned heat generation
- Cost estimate for each step and the achievable final energy savings
- Allocation of the funding programmes that may apply, with their caps
- Implementation guides (Umsetzungshilfe) as separate sheets for commissioning the contractors
- Results meeting at the building, in which the results are discussed and open questions are settled
The iSFP is not a compliance certificate under the Building Modernisation Act (Gebäudemodernisierungsgesetz, GModG, formerly GEG) and replaces neither an energy performance certificate nor detailed design (Ausführungsplanung). It is a basis for decisions and the prerequisite for higher funding rates for individual measures.
Funding
The funding works on two levels: preparing the roadmap is subsidised, and for measures from the roadmap carried out later, the funding for the building envelope increases.
Level 1 – Grant towards the consultation
| Building | Eligible costs | Funding rate | Grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family and two-family house | €1,300 | 50% | €650 |
| Residential building with three or more units | €1,700 | 50% | €850 |
Level 2 – Higher funding for individual measures
If a measure on the building envelope is carried out that is included in the roadmap, the cap on eligible costs doubles. In addition, a bonus of five percentage points applies to the share of costs above the cap that would apply without a roadmap. Heating systems are excluded from this rule; they are funded through a separate programme.
| Item | without iSFP | with iSFP |
|---|---|---|
| Cap on eligible costs | €30,000 | €60,000 |
| Basic funding 15% | €4,500 | €9,000 |
| iSFP bonus 5% on the share above €30,000 | – | €1,500 |
| Grant | €4,500 | €10,500 |
The bonus is subject to two conditions: the measure must be carried out with a minimum eligible investment volume of €30,000 gross, and no more than 15 years may pass between preparing the roadmap and carrying out the measure. The roadmap must already be available when the application is submitted. The bonus does not apply to heating systems.
For buildings with several residential units, the caps increase in stages per unit. For buildings in Hamburg, funding from IFB Hamburg (Hamburg's state investment and development bank) can be added and combined with federal funding, provided that all public funds together do not exceed 60 per cent of the eligible costs. The funding calculator (in German) gives a rough estimate for your project.
Primary source: funding guideline for BEG individual measures (BEG Einzelmaßnahmen, BEG EM) under the Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings (BEG) of 17 July 2026, numbers 8.3.1 and 8.4.2 – Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (in German). Grant towards the consultation: BAFA, energy advice for residential buildings (in German).
Requirements and deadlines
Building
Funding is available for existing buildings used mainly for residential purposes. For federal funding, the application for building permission must have been submitted at least five years ago; for the Hamburg programmes, more than twenty years ago.
Order of steps
The application must be submitted before the contract is awarded. Signing a supply or service contract already counts as awarding the contract. This order applies to the consultation as well as to any later construction work.
Frequently asked questions
What does an iSFP cost in Hamburg?
For a single-family or two-family house the fee is typically €1,800 to €2,200 incl. VAT before funding. BAFA subsidises 50 per cent, capped at €650. This leaves your own share of about €1,150 to €1,550. For apartment buildings, size and effort vary widely, so I state the fee in the quote after reviewing the documents. From three residential units, the grant is capped at €850.
Does the iSFP oblige me to carry out the measures?
No. The roadmap is a planning document with no obligation to implement it. For the higher funding of an individual measure, it is sufficient that the measure is included in the roadmap.
How long does an iSFP remain valid?
There is no time limit. If the funding conditions or the condition of the building change significantly, for example through a heating replacement, an update makes sense.
How does a homeowners' association commission the roadmap?
The association passes a resolution to commission it and appoints an authorised person, usually the property manager. The roadmap is prepared for the building as a whole; costs and funding are allocated according to co-ownership shares. On request, I present the results at the owners' meeting.
Is an iSFP useful if a renovation is already planned?
Yes, provided the work has not yet been commissioned. The roadmap is then focused on the planned project: it secures the higher funding, checks the planned measure for building-physics compatibility and places it in the further development of the building. In this case, the on-site results meeting also serves to settle the specific questions of execution.
How does the iSFP differ from the energy performance certificate?
The energy performance certificate (Energieausweis) documents the condition and must be presented when a property is sold or let. The iSFP assesses the condition and derives a sequence of measures from it. The two documents have different legal bases and do not replace each other.
Request a renovation roadmap
For a quote I need details of the building type, year of construction, number of residential units and ownership structure. You will hear back from me within two working days.