Homeowners in Madeira will be able to access significantly higher levels of financial support to restore degraded properties following changes to the Regional Government’s Property Recovery Programme (PRID), published today in the Official Journal of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (JORAM).
The amended regulations increase the maximum grant available for standard rehabilitation, repair, improvement and adaptation works from €20,000 to €35,000, representing a 75% increase.
For more extensive works made necessary by storms, natural disasters, fires or other catastrophic events, the maximum level of support rises from €50,000 to €70,000, an increase of 40%, subject to appropriate justification.
According to the Regional Secretariat for Equipment and Infrastructures, the revised rules also widen eligibility by increasing the household income thresholds used to assess applications, allowing more families to qualify for assistance.
The changes also simplify the application process and, for the first time, allow PRID funding to be combined with other public housing or energy-efficiency grants, provided the same works are not financed twice. The measure is intended to make larger-scale rehabilitation projects more financially viable.
PRID is administered by IHM – Investimentos Habitacionais da Madeira under the supervision of the Regional Secretariat for Equipment and Infrastructures. The programme supports the recovery, rehabilitation and improvement of degraded properties used as permanent homes, intending to improve housing conditions and preserve Madeira’s housing stock.
According to the Regional Government, around 500 families have benefited from the programme since its introduction, representing public investment of approximately €1 million per year. Officials expect the higher grant ceilings and broader eligibility criteria to increase demand and expand the number of households able to receive support.
Applications remain open throughout the year and can be submitted online or in person at IHM’s headquarters.
To qualify, applicants must be residents in the Autonomous Region of Madeira and be the owner, co-owner or usufructuary of an urban property requiring rehabilitation to provide suitable living conditions.
For many owners of Madeira’s ageing housing stock, particularly traditional stone houses in rural areas, the increase from €20,000 to €35,000 could be the difference between carrying out basic repairs and completing a more comprehensive renovation.
The ability to combine PRID with separate energy-efficiency grants could also prove significant, enabling homeowners to undertake insulation, window replacement or renewable energy improvements alongside essential structural repairs, provided each grant funds different aspects of the project.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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