When deciding to purchase a home, the question of whether to opt for new rather than old often arises. There are, however, many reasons to choose to invest in a new property programme. Here are a few of them.

Energy-efficient housing meeting industry standards

Building construction regulations are constantly evolving, incorporating not only new concerns and expectations but also technical innovations in construction materials and methods. By purchasing a new home you are assured of getting a building whose electricity, plumbing and construction materials meet the latest security and energy efficiency requirements. Thanks to the Energy Passport, which has been mandatory since 1 January 2008, you will also know all the energy characteristics of your future home. The Energy Passport shows its energy needs, these are essentially the energy costs that will generate heat, and the house's thermal insulation classification. These elements allow you to quickly assess whether your home will be a high consumer of energy or energy efficient.

Ten-year guarantees and responsibilities

One of the arguments often put forward for preferring the old to the new is the possibility of progressively discovering construction defects affecting the housing. This point of view loses its weight in the light of the legislation. Indeed, trades connected with a building's construction remain responsible for it for ten years. Specifically, the appearance of a construction defect is covered by the ten-year guarantee, that is to say by the insurance, of the craftsman, architect or contractor for ten years following delivery of the property. On the contrary, when buying older property, you acquire it in the condition it is in, and only evidence that the previous owner has deliberately concealed a problem can result in his liability. The risks are much higher with the old than they are with the new!

Grants and funding

Whether for an apartment in a large-scale housing programme, or the construction of a single detached dwelling, there are many grants and funding opportunities for getting access to property. Whether directly, as with the construction subsidy, or indirectly, as with the reduction of VAT to 3% for the construction of new housing, the Grand Duchy has designed a series of measures to stimulate the creation of new housing. At the local level, some municipalities encourage the arrival of new owners on their territory by awarding premiums for acquisition and/or construction. Among the many benefits of acquiring of a new home compared to an old one, it is also worth mentioning the possibility of choosing ones own finishes and thus the prospect of moving into a home already completely to your liking. This avoids the need for supplementary budgets for development and rehabilitation.

In just a few clicks, discover on our IMMOTOP.LU website all of the new real estate programmes and projects currently under construction in the Grand Duchy!