The RENOLUTION grants, the main financial lever for energy renovation in the Brussels Region, have been suspended since the beginning of 2025. For households considering replacing their boiler, the question is no longer just “how much will I receive?”, but “what assistance is still actually available and under what conditions?”. This article reviews the schemes still accessible in Brussels in 2025, their exact scope, and the regulatory constraints that change the game.
Suspension of RENOLUTION grants: what is blocked and what is not
The most crucial information for 2025 can be summed up in one sentence: no new applications for RENOLUTION grants can be submitted. The suspension, linked to the absence of a Brussels government capable of voting on a new budget framework, freezes the scheme that previously covered boiler replacements, heat pump installations, and insulation work.
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According to Bruxelles-J, it is no longer possible to submit an application starting from August 16, 2025, even if the work was completed before this date. Grants are only paid if the final invoice has been submitted before this deadline.
This suspension does not mean the permanent disappearance of the program. Files already validated before the suspension will continue to be processed. However, any new boiler replacement project launched in 2025 will not be able to rely on this lever. For households wishing to install a new boiler in Brussels, they must turn to other mechanisms.
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Heating aids still accessible in Brussels in 2025: comparative table
Three schemes remain available despite the suspension of RENOLUTION grants. Their scope and conditions differ significantly.
| Scheme | Type of aid | Eligible equipment | Main condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6% VAT | Tax reduction | Heat pumps (and other renovation work) | Housing over 10 years old, work carried out by a professional |
| Municipal grants | Direct subsidy | Variable depending on the municipality (heat pumps, insulation, solar thermal) | Reside in a municipality that offers the scheme |
| ECORENO loan | Low-interest loan | Energy renovation work (including heating replacement) | Must be an owner-occupier or landlord in the Brussels Region |
The common point of these three aids: none directly finance a conventional gas boiler. The direction is clear, the remaining schemes target renewable or high-energy-performance equipment.
6% VAT on heat pumps: the most immediate tax lever
The reduced VAT rate of 6% remains the simplest mechanism to activate in 2025. It applies to renovation work in homes over ten years old, provided that the installation is carried out by a registered contractor.
For an air/water heat pump, the difference between a 21% VAT and a 6% VAT represents savings of several thousand euros on the total installation cost. This gain is automatic: no grant application form to fill out, no processing time, no risk of suspension.
Conversely, this reduced VAT does not apply to new constructions. And for projects classified as new (complete reconstruction, for example), other constraints come into play, such as the prohibition of fossil boilers detailed below.
Municipal grants: variable amounts and criteria
Several Brussels municipalities offer their own grants for heating-related work. The amounts, eligible equipment, and income ceilings vary from one municipality to another. Some cover the installation of heat pumps, others solar thermal or insulation.
The process requires contacting the urban planning or environmental service of one’s municipality directly. There is no centralized counter for municipal grants, which complicates comparison. Checking for the existence of a local grant before signing a quote remains a step not to be overlooked.
ECORENO loan: a loan, not a subsidy
The ECORENO loan allows borrowing at a reduced rate to finance energy renovation work. It does not replace a grant: the borrowed amount must be repaid. Its advantage lies in the rate, significantly lower than that of a conventional personal loan.
This scheme is aimed at owner-occupiers or landlords in the Brussels Region. It can cover the replacement of a heating system, insulation, or the installation of solar thermal panels.
Ban on fossil boilers in new Brussels buildings starting in 2025
Beyond financial aids, a regulatory constraint is profoundly changing the heating landscape in Brussels. Since January 1, 2025, projects consisting solely of new or assimilated PEB units must produce their heat exclusively from electricity, renewable energies, or be connected to an efficient thermal network.
In practical terms, this means that installing a gas or oil boiler in a new building is no longer permitted. This ban applies to building permits, not the renovation of an existing home. A homeowner replacing an old boiler in an old building can still opt for gas, but without any public aid for this choice.
This regulatory evolution partly explains why the remaining aids focus on heat pumps and solar thermal. The Brussels authorities are steering the real estate stock away from fossil fuels, and financial mechanisms follow this logic.
Criteria to check before launching a boiler replacement
Before signing a quote, several points deserve systematic verification:
- The age of the housing: the 6% VAT only applies to buildings over ten years old, and only for work carried out by a registered professional
- The type of project: if the permit classifies the building as “new” or “assimilated new,” the installation of a fossil boiler has been prohibited since January 2025
- The existence of a municipal grant: each municipality has its own criteria, amounts, and deadlines, to be checked before work
- The status of RENOLUTION grants: if the program resumes, the conditions and amounts may differ from the 2024 framework
Replacing a boiler in Brussels in 2025 relies on a limited number of financial levers. The 6% VAT on heat pumps remains the most accessible aid, followed by municipal grants for those residing in an active municipality on this issue. The ECORENO loan complements the scheme for households needing to spread the cost. The suspension of RENOLUTION grants leaves a gap that only a new Brussels government can fill.