Roof, windows, heating, ventilation: anyone wanting to carry out an energy-related modernisation of an older house faces many construction sites and the question of where to start. An individual renovation roadmap (iSFP) brings order to these decisions. It shows which measures make sense and in which order, and can bring additional funding for individual measures. Since the reform of BAFA funding in July 2026, however, many owners have been asking whether the renovation roadmap still pays off financially.
In this guide, we explain what an individual renovation roadmap is, how it is prepared, how its preparation is funded and what advantages it still offers since the reform of 21 July 2026. A calculation example shows you from what point the iSFP bonus makes a financial difference. BAFA's current guidelines and information sheets are binding. Status: October 2026.
What is an individual renovation roadmap?
The individual renovation roadmap (individueller Sanierungsfahrplan, iSFP) is a standardised advisory document for residential buildings that an energy consultant prepares using a uniform nationwide procedure. It looks at the house as a whole, meaning the building envelope, heating, hot water and ventilation. From this, the consultant develops either a renovation in one go or, more often, a path in several coordinated steps over several years.
The iSFP consists of two parts. "My renovation roadmap" sets out the path clearly, with a colour-coded assessment of the current condition and the individual packages of measures. The "Implementation guide for my measures" describes each package in more detail, with technical notes, estimated costs and the expected energy savings. For owners, this is a solid basis for obtaining quotes and setting priorities.
How the renovation roadmap is prepared: a four-step process
- Choose an energy consultant: the iSFP is only funded if it is prepared by an energy efficiency expert from the federal list of experts.
- Funding application: the consultant applies to BAFA for the advisory grant, and does so before you commission them bindingly. The grant is offset against the fee, so you only pay your own share.
- On-site appointment and survey: the consultant surveys the building, evaluates plans and consumption data and discusses your wishes, budget and time frame with you.
- Final meeting: you receive the finished roadmap and go through the results together with the consultant.
Allow a few weeks for the entire process. Have documents ready such as floor plans, chimney sweep reports, heating cost statements and details of previous modernisations. This saves time and improves the quality of the recommendations.
Renovation roadmap (iSFP): costs and funding for its preparation
Preparation is funded via BAFA's Energy Consultancy for Residential Buildings programme. The grant amounts to 50 per cent of the eligible consultant's fee, up to a maximum of 650 euros for detached and semi-detached houses and up to 850 euros for residential buildings with at least three residential units. If the consultant also explains the results at a meeting of a homeowners' association, a one-off amount of up to 250 euros is added. Funding covers residential buildings in Germany whose building application or building notification was submitted at least ten years ago. You agree the fee with the consultant; it varies depending on the building, scope and region. So ask for a written quote in advance that already shows the grant. If you claim individual measures for tax relief under Section 35c of the German Income Tax Act (EStG) instead of BAFA funding, the costs of an accompanying energy consultant can also be taken into account. Double funding of the same measure is, however, excluded; your tax adviser can clarify the details.
The iSFP bonus for individual measures since July 2026
If you implement a measure from your roadmap, such as insulation, new windows or a ventilation system with heat recovery, BAFA funding for individual measures provides a bonus of 5 percentage points on top of the basic funding of 15 per cent. Since 21 July 2026, however, this bonus only applies to the part of the eligible costs that exceeds 30,000 euros. At the same time, the iSFP doubles the maximum limit for eligible costs from 30,000 to 60,000 euros per residential unit and calendar year. The prerequisite is that the measure is included in the roadmap and is carried out within 15 years of its preparation. The iSFP bonus does not apply to heating replacement via KfW, which has its own bonuses. Our guide to BEG funding for individual measures summarises which measures are eligible in principle.
| Eligible costs per year | Grant without iSFP | Grant with iSFP | Advantage from iSFP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25,000 euros | 3,750 euros | 3,750 euros | 0 euros |
| 45,000 euros | 4,500 euros | 7,500 euros | 3,000 euros |
| 60,000 euros | 4,500 euros | 10,500 euros | 6,000 euros |
The example for a detached house shows that since the reform, the roadmap no longer brings an additional grant for smaller individual measures. Its financial value lies in larger projects, above all through the higher cost limit. Anyone who bundles several measures in one calendar year, such as facade and windows, therefore benefits most.
Why a renovation roadmap pays off even without the bonus
The greatest benefit of the iSFP often lies not in the bonus but in the right order of steps. If you install a new heating system first and only insulate years later, the heating may have been oversized. Conversely, an insulated envelope can improve the conditions for a heat pump with a low flow temperature, as our guide Heat Pumps in Older Buildings shows. Ventilation also belongs in the plan: if windows are replaced and the house becomes more airtight, a ventilation concept is often required under DIN 1946-6. You can read how comfort ventilation is planned in the guide Planning Comfort Ventilation.
Planning certainty is another factor. The roadmap shows which costs you can expect in the coming years and helps to combine measures with maintenance that is due anyway, such as facade insulation with a new coat of paint. When buying a house, an iSFP can also show which retrofit obligations arise after the change of ownership and what effort is realistic. The energy performance certificate also gives a first impression of the energy condition; find out more in the guide Energy Performance Certificate and Ventilation. Incidentally, the heating season is a good time for the consultation: draughts, cold wall surfaces and how the heating behaves in operation can be assessed best then.
Renovation roadmap and property value: documenting building services clearly
When a property is sold, prospective buyers and valuers ask about the building services early on: how old is the heating, what energy source does it use, what investments are due in the coming years? Foreseeable costs for an outdated heating system, old pipes or moisture damage feed into price negotiations. The energy performance certificate must be presented when selling or letting and makes energy quality comparable; the role ventilation plays in it is explained in the guide energy performance certificate and ventilation.
A renovation roadmap helps in two ways. It shows which measures have already been carried out and in which order the remaining ones should follow. And it provides a clear basis on which prospective buyers can assess future costs. Add your own folder with invoices, maintenance records and evidence of completed work to the roadmap.
- Heating: age, energy source and maintenance records of the heat generator
- Ventilation: ventilation concept, filter changes and maintenance, protection of the building fabric against moisture
- Solar technology and plumbing: commissioning and maintenance documents, condition of the installations
Measures that a renovation roadmap often includes are replacing the heating system, for example with an air-to-water heat pump, and installing ventilation with heat recovery, for example via central ventilation systems.
Frequently asked questions
How long is an iSFP valid?
For the bonus on individual measures, the measure must be carried out within 15 years of the roadmap being prepared. As a planning basis, it remains useful as long as nothing significant changes in the building.
Do I have to implement all the measures in the roadmap?
No. The iSFP is a recommendation, not an obligation. You decide yourself which steps to implement and when. For the bonus, however, the funded measure must be part of the roadmap.
Is the iSFP also available for homeowners' associations?
Yes, an iSFP can also be prepared for residential buildings with several units, and the maximum grant is higher there. In addition, explaining the results at the owners' meeting is subsidised.
What is the difference between an iSFP and an energy performance certificate?
The energy performance certificate assesses the energy condition and is mandatory for sales and new lettings. The iSFP goes further: it shows specific measures, their order, estimated costs and their effect.
Conclusion
An individual renovation roadmap (iSFP) brings structure to energy-related modernisation and shows which measures make sense and in which order. Its preparation is funded at 50 per cent of the fee, up to a maximum of 650 euros for detached and semi-detached houses. Since 21 July 2026, the bonus of 5 percentage points only applies to eligible costs above 30,000 euros, but the doubled cost limit still makes the iSFP attractive for larger projects. Regardless of funding, it protects you against costly wrong decisions on heating, insulation and ventilation. For implementation, you will find ventilation units in our Ventilation Systems category and heat pumps under Heat Pumps.
