The Municipality of The Hague is making it easier for residents to improve the sustainability of their homes. This week, the city opened the first temporary Hou van je Huis (“Love Your Home”) advice desk at Schroeder Torenstraat thrift store in the city centre. The pop-up marks the start of a travelling series of neighbourhood advice points that will visit all districts of The Hague in the coming months.
Residents can visit the desk free of charge and without an appointment for independent advice on home insulation, energy-saving measures and available subsidies.
Accessible advice in every neighbourhood
At the ‘Hou van je Huis’ advice desk, residents can receive information on insulation, energy saving, solar panels, green roofs, improving energy labels and cooperation within homeowners’ associations. The initiative is open to homeowners, tenants and landlords alike.
“Sustainability works best when it is easy for people to simply walk in and ask questions. That is why our housing advisors are here in the city centre today, and why they will be visiting all districts of The Hague in the coming months,” Kapteijns added.
Making home sustainability easier and more affordable
The Hague has supported residents in making their homes more sustainable for several years. Since March, the municipality has expanded this support with a city-wide insulation subsidy scheme.
The first 1,000 applicants receive €1,000 instead of €570. The scheme is aimed at homes with energy labels D, E, F or G, where insulation measures can make the biggest difference. Better insulation improves living comfort, retains heat more effectively and helps lower energy bills. The subsidy applies to roof, floor, façade and glass insulation and can be combined with other financial support schemes and guidance programmes.
The scheme is available to homeowners, homeowners’ associations (VvEs) and housing associations. Residents with an ‘Ooievaarspas’ low-income card or those who previously received energy compensation payments may qualify for up to €3,500 in additional support.
A key advantage of the scheme is that residents do not need to cover the full costs upfront themselves. Around 80 per cent of the subsidy is paid in advance based on the contractor’s quotation, with the remaining amount provided after completion of the works.