CondoReno Research Identified Barriers to Home Renovations
A new project highlighted that complex legal and administrative processes often stall condominium improvement efforts.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Home Renovation
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The CondoReno research project has identified that administrative and legal hurdles frequently delay condominium renovations by six to eight years. The study suggests that adopting specialized support models could potentially reduce these timelines to four to five years.
Why it matters
Frequent changes to housing policies, energy efficiency rules, and subsidy programs create significant uncertainty for both property owners and contractors. These systemic obstacles often impede necessary maintenance and modernization efforts in aging residential buildings.
Condominium renovations typically require 5 to 7 years from initial discussion to implementation. Some property deeds involved in these legal reviews date back to 1934.
The players
CondoReno
This research project focuses on identifying and mitigating the barriers that prevent effective condominium renovations.
Delft University of Technology
This institution served as the coordinator for the CondoReno research initiative.
The details
Condominium associations face challenges reaching consensus on technical plans, governance, and financing. One-stop shops have been proposed to offer neutral guidance and mediation between managers, small businesses, and public authorities to navigate these hurdles.
Timeline
The CondoReno project conducted its research over a four-year period.
Property deeds in some cases date back to 1934.
Culture Shift
The push for building modernization follows a pattern set by European Union energy performance rules that mandate higher efficiency for aging stock. This shift forces a transition away from fragmented maintenance toward standardized, long-term renovation strategies.
Property owners in condominium complexes may see faster project timelines if local authorities adopt one-stop shop mediation services. This model streamlines decision-making and financing, potentially reducing the multi-year wait times currently common for building upgrades.
The takeaway
Homeowners should prioritize establishing reserve funds and clear multi-year maintenance plans to avoid administrative gridlock. Taking an early, unified approach to financing and governance can help property associations avoid years of legal delays.
Further reading
For more on improving your living space, explore our Home Renovation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Euractiv DE.
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Do you feel that complex government regulations make it too difficult to renovate your home?
