Grants & VAT
RENOLUTION grants in Brussels: still suspended in 2026
Since 1 January 2025, RENOLUTION grants have been suspended in Brussels, pending a regional government. What remains possible, the impact on the sector, and how to move forward without waiting on a grant with no clear timeline.
· 8 min read · L'équipe technique VCN Energy
In Brussels, RENOLUTION grants have been suspended since 1 January 2025, and they still are on 6 October 2026: no application based on a 2026-dated invoice can be filed. For an owner waiting on this grant before starting heating works, the question becomes very concrete: keep waiting, or act now without it?
Why RENOLUTION grants have been stuck for almost two years
The RENOLUTION system has historically funded insulation, ventilation, boilers and heat pumps in the Brussels Region. The suspension, which took effect on 1 January 2025, stems from the lack of a Brussels government able to settle the 2026 budget and rules for the scheme. The Brussels Parliament asked for payments to continue, and Environment Minister Alain Maron publicly criticised how Urban Brussels was handling pending files — a sign the blockage weighs on the administration as much as on households. As of 6 October 2026, no government decision has reopened the system for invoices dated this year.
What is blocked, what is not
The suspension covers new applications based on a 2026-dated invoice. A file with a 2024-dated invoice remains processable if the eligibility conditions of the time were met — worth checking directly with Brussels Environment before writing off an ongoing application. Outside the grants, the Ecoreno credit, a favourable-rate loan for energy renovation, keeps running independently of this freeze and remains a financing route available today.
A sector absorbing the hit while it waits
A survey of Brussels construction firms shows the scale of the problem: around 10% of companies surveyed say they risk closing if the suspension continues, and half expect a revenue drop of more than 50% for as long as the grants stay frozen. This climate directly affects Brussels households, who postpone heating works while waiting for a grant whose return date is unknown.
Should you wait for the grant to service or replace your boiler?
Waiting for a grant suspended since January 2025 to carry out an urgent service or repair makes no sense: such work is not covered by RENOLUTION anyway, which targets investment (insulation, heat pump, ventilation), not maintenance. For a bigger boiler replacement, it's a different call: if the project still works without the grant, it is better to move ahead than to lose a heating season or two waiting for a political decision. If the budget strictly depends on the grant, waiting remains a reasonable option, provided the file stays up to date for whenever the system reopens.
In practice, a gas boiler on its last legs or a poorly sized heat pump gain nothing from waiting another winter: the risk of a breakdown mid-season often costs more than a planned replacement, grant or no grant.
Servicing while you wait: the right priority
As long as the grant file is on hold, regular servicing protects the existing installation and avoids the breakdown that would force an unplanned replacement. At VCN Energy, gas boiler servicing costs €159 excl. VAT (price listed in October 2026), with a team working across the Brussels Region via our heating engineer in Brussels. The VCN ONE Basic gas plan, from €13.99 a month, includes this servicing and the annual reminders, without waiting for a regional grant to return.
Book your service online or call 010 80 20 92: our technicians work in Brussels and can assess with you whether a replacement makes sense now or whether waiting is the better call.
Frequently asked questions
Are RENOLUTION grants still suspended in 2026?
Yes. As of 6 October 2026, no application based on a 2026-dated invoice can be filed, pending the formation of a Brussels government able to decide the scheme's budget and rules.
Can I still file with a 2024-dated invoice?
A file based on a 2024-dated invoice remains processable if the eligibility conditions of the time were met. Check this specific point directly with Brussels Environment before considering your file lost.
Is there a financing alternative during the suspension?
The Ecoreno credit, a favourable-rate loan for energy renovation, keeps running independently of the RENOLUTION grant freeze.
Should I wait for the grant before replacing a boiler?
It depends on your budget and the state of the current installation. If the project remains viable without the grant, waiting risks a breakdown mid-heating-season. If financing strictly depends on the grant, waiting remains a reasonable option.
Is boiler servicing affected by the suspension?
No: RENOLUTION targets investment (insulation, heat pump, ventilation), not routine servicing, which is independent of this freeze and should still happen every year as before.
Sources
- À Bruxelles, MR, PS et Les Engagés veulent reporter la prochaine norme LEZ et apurer les demandes de prime RENOLUTION — RTBF
- « Je ne comprends pas ce qu'ils foutent » : Alain Maron pointe du doigt la gestion des primes RENOLUTION par Urban Brussels — BX1
- Le Parlement bruxellois demande la continuité du versement des primes RENOLUTION — BX1
- Les primes RENOLUTION — Bruxelles Environnement
- Primes rénovation à Bruxelles en 2026 : quels sont les changements ? — Test-Achats