The resale housing market: missed opportunities
Since 2018, with the exception of the pandemic period, more than half a million transactions involving previously used apartments and houses have taken place annually in Spain. This creates considerable potential for modernizing the housing stock. However, most new owners are unaware of the technical condition of the properties they acquire. According to experts, only one in ten homeowners truly understands the real state of their home. Such a lack of awareness means that renovations focus mainly on cosmetic changes rather than improving energy efficiency.
Renovation priorities: appearance versus safety
An analysis carried out by the Observatory for Residential Electrical Renovation (OREVE) together with the General Council of Technical Architects of Spain (CGATE) revealed that about 80% of all home renovation projects are limited to kitchen and bathroom replacements and other visual upgrades. Meanwhile, measures aimed at reducing emissions and switching to clean energy sources remain in the background, with the exception of window replacements and facade insulation. The issue of upgrading electrical systems is hardly considered, even though it is essential for installing modern heating systems, electric vehicles, and solar panels.
Undervaluing electrical systems: consequences for the future
According to experts, only 13% of homeowners consider updating electrical wiring an important part of renovations, despite the fact that it is technically necessary in 60% of cases. On average, such work accounts for about one-tenth of the total major renovation budget. Without modern electrical networks, it is impossible to connect new energy-intensive appliances or switch to renewable energy sources. As a result, around 40% of energy consumption in Spanish homes still comes from gas and other fossil fuels.
Professional community’s stance and recommendations
Construction industry professionals note that most homeowners focus on quick comfort and appearance rather than long-term safety and savings. This leads to partial renovations that fail to address fundamental problems. Experts propose allocating at least 10% of government subsidies to upgrade electrical systems and launching information campaigns to explain the connection between renovation, energy savings, and safety.
Transaction transparency requirements and new initiatives
Among the proposals is the introduction of a mandatory technical report on the condition of residential properties and their engineering systems when selling or renting them. Such a document would enable buyers to make more informed decisions and adjust property prices based on the actual state of the property. The current energy efficiency certificate does not capture all the aspects related to electrical systems. Experts emphasize that without a comprehensive approach to updating infrastructure, it will be impossible to achieve emission reduction targets and transition to clean energy.
