Social housing: the NRRP is not enough and the Housing Plan has not yet got off the ground. Buttieri (Federcasa) speaks out

On Thursday, the Minister for European Affairs, Tommaso Foti, presented the results of the NRRP measure for the energy-efficient refurbishment of social housing: around 30,000 flats will be refurbished with €1.58 billion. However, there is a problem: the applications actually total €3.3 billion, meaning that half of the required funding has not been allocated. The measure was originally included in the 2025 Budget Law with 1.381 billion allocated, after which the Infrastructure Decree added a further 200 million.

“When the government introduced the measure, it was concerned about the scope of the scheme, as it had no reliable data on the number of homes to be refurbished. We have always maintained that the scale of the work would actually be greater,” Marco Buttieri, president of Federcasa – the association representing the bodies that manage social housing – told Il Foglio. “However, we were aware that the target was 1.381 billion; then Foti added a further 200 (bringing the total to nearly 1.6 billion currently covered, ed.). We hope that further funds can still be secured.” Buttieri explains: “All applications have already been verified; all that remains is to sign the contracts and the work can begin. This money is being spent on public housing stock, not on private villas as with the Superbonus, and it is also a social measure as well as a financial one. In fact, to be approved, every project must reduce energy consumption by at least 30 per cent, but almost all exceed 35 per cent. Just think of the potential savings for those families.”

At a press conference, Foti said he was open to seeking funds for the applications that have not yet been covered. And the president of Federcasa commented: “The minister said he wanted to wait for the Istat figures on the deficit to see if there is any further leeway”. However, Federcasa believes the funds can be found elsewhere: “The tenth instalment of the NRRP is due to be paid out now. We hope funds can be reallocated from measures that have not exhausted their resources, just as 200 million was reallocated a few months ago. Alternatively, the European Social Climate Fund, which was set up specifically for energy saving, could be used.”

The Housing Plan, on the other hand, approved by the government in May, could not fund the excluded projects: “The 970 million allocated relates to increasing the housing stock,” says Buttieri. “Perhaps only if part of the Social Climate Fund were channelled there: but it depends on how the cohesion funds are allocated.” But what is the current status of the Housing Plan? “We are focusing primarily on the refurbishment of 60,000 vacant social housing units that cannot be allocated. The ‘100,000 homes in ten years’ initiative relates more to the private sector. However, Invitalia’s call for tenders for the refurbishment of properties is imminent: in my view, it will be published at the end of September.” The president of Federcasa then concluded: “They have yet to call us in to explain the requirements and rules. The general picture, however, is clear: the 970 million will be distributed amongst the regions and then, within each region, housing authorities and local councils will be ranked. The principle should be to prioritise funding for areas where demand is highest and waiting lists are longest.”