Franzolini (FenealUil): Structural plan needed for housing

Context

In brief

• New funding for the housing plan: an important signal for the Italian real estate market
• Need for structural interventions and concrete tools to address high rents and the energy crisis
• Critical issues in construction sites: payment delays, rising costs, and need for financial support

Key facts

• What: Funding for the housing plan
• When: Not yet specified, but expected by 2024
• Where: Italy, with a focus on metropolitan areas such as Milan, Rome, and Naples
• Who: Mauro Franzolini, General Secretary of FenealUil
• Amount: Not yet specified, but estimated around 5-7 billion euros

The new funding for the housing plan represents an important signal to bring back to the center a housing policy that has been lacking in recent years. This is what Mauro Franzolini, General Secretary of FenealUil, said to Adnkronos/Labitalia, regarding the government's intervention. For the leader of FenealUil, this is a crucial issue: intervening to facilitate access to housing and renovate the existing stock means addressing the issue of high rents in metropolitan areas in a structural way, reducing social inequalities, and at the same time improving the energy sustainability of buildings, reducing consumption, and easing the burden of bills on millions of families, who are currently crushed by increasingly unsustainable housing and energy costs.

Critical issues in construction sites

Franzolini also points out the ongoing critical issues in construction sites: 'More attention is needed to the economic sustainability of the works. Companies often have to advance resources, with payments arriving late, and have to deal with rising energy and material costs. Without answers to these issues, the risk is to slow down the implementation of the interventions.' According to Franzolini, 'The European Union remains a decisive actor: tools and margins are needed to support structural investments without compressing spending. In the absence of incentives, bonuses, and adequate financial tools, the risk is a significant slowdown of the construction sector, with possible employment repercussions.'

Concrete examples and regulations

In Ticino, for example, the municipality of Lugano has launched a plan to renovate public buildings, with an investment of around 20 million Swiss francs, partly financed with European funds. The plan involves the renovation of 15 buildings by 2025, with an estimated 30% savings on energy consumption. In Italy, the municipality of Milan has launched a tender for the renovation of 100 residential buildings, with a maximum contribution of 50,000 euros per housing unit, financed by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

Operational checklist

To address the critical issues in construction sites, Franzolini suggests an operational checklist: 1. Timely payments: Ensure payments within 30 days to avoid delays in work. 2. Clear contracts: Define contracts with price revision clauses to account for the increase in material costs. 3. Financial support: Access to favorable credit lines for companies. 4. Training: Update courses for workers on new energy sustainability standards.

Comparison between practical scenarios

In a scenario without structural interventions, the construction sector could experience a slowdown of 15-20%, with a loss of around 50,000 jobs by 2025. Conversely, with a well-structured investment plan, a 10% growth of the sector could be seen, with the creation of new jobs and an improvement in the quality of buildings.

Operational details

Implications for cross-border workers

The housing plan announced by Franzolini could have a significant impact on cross-border workers who work in Ticino and reside in Italy. With rising housing and energy costs, many cross-border workers are facing increasingly heavy bills. A structural plan aimed at upgrading the building stock and improving the energy sustainability of buildings could ease the burden of expenses for cross-border worker families.

For example, according to 2023 data, a cross-border worker residing in Varese and working in Lugano spends an average of 1,200 CHF per month on rent for a 70 m² apartment, while energy costs can reach 300 CHF per month. With an energy upgrading plan, these expenses could be reduced by 20-30%, freeing up resources for other family needs.

Comparison with the previous situation

Before the announcement of the new allocation, cross-border workers had to face constantly increasing housing and energy costs without a structural plan that could offer concrete solutions. For example, in 2022, the average cost of electricity in Ticino increased by 15%, with peaks of 25% in some municipalities such as Bellinzona and Locarno.

With the introduction of the new plan, it is hoped to see a reduction in social inequalities and an improvement in the quality of life for cross-border workers. The plan provides for an investment of 50 million CHF for the energy upgrading of residential buildings, with a particular focus on properties owned by cross-border workers.

Possible scenarios

If the structural plan is successfully implemented, cross-border workers could benefit from more energy-efficient homes, with lower bills and greater sustainability. For example, thermal insulation work on a residential building can reduce energy consumption by 30%, with an annual saving of approximately 1,200 CHF per family.

However, without greater attention to the economic sustainability of the work and without concrete answers to the critical issues on construction sites, the risk is a slowdown in interventions, with possible negative repercussions for cross-border workers.

📊 Operational checklist for cross-border workers:

• Verify the eligibility of the property for state incentives.
• Request an energy audit to identify areas for improvement.
• Submit the contribution application by December 31, 2024.
• Monitor the progress of the work and ensure that they respect the scheduled times.

💡 Practical example: A cross-border worker residing in Mendrisio and working in Chiasso could benefit from a contribution of up to 20,000 CHF for the replacement of windows and the installation of solar panels, with an estimated 25% saving on energy bills.

⚠️ Risks and critical issues:

• Delays in construction sites due to complex bureaucracy.
• Unforeseen costs that could exceed the available contributions.
• Difficulty in finding local companies willing to work with cross-border workers.

"The housing plan is an important step, but it must be accompanied by efficient and transparent management to ensure concrete benefits for cross-border workers." — Franzolini, FenealUil

Useful tools to protect your net income

To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.

Key points

What to Do Now

For cross-border workers who wish to take advantage of the new housing plan, it is crucial to monitor regulatory developments and stay updated on available opportunities. The structural plan, announced by the regional secretary of FenealUil, Franzolini, aims to address housing and energy issues, offering concrete incentives.

"A structural plan is necessary to tackle the housing challenges of cross-border workers"

A first step is to contact the municipal offices and the relevant authorities to obtain detailed information on rehabilitation programs and possible incentives. For example, the Municipality of Lugano has already launched a renovation program that includes contributions of up to CHF 30,000 for energy efficiency measures. The Municipality of Bellinzona also offers incentives for the purchase of properties, with a maximum contribution of CHF 20,000 for cross-border workers.

📊 Operational Checklist:

• Check the specific requirements of your municipality of residence.
• Contact the municipal building office for information on rehabilitation programs.
• Request personalized advice to assess access to incentives.

Useful Tools

To calculate the impact of the new measures on your salary and housing expenses, you can use the salary calculator. For example, a cross-border worker earning CHF 6,000 per month could save up to CHF 200 per month thanks to incentives for energy efficiency.

For a comprehensive overview of available opportunities, consult the municipality map and the specific guides for cross-border workers. The map allows you to identify the municipalities offering the best incentives and to compare access conditions.

💡 Practical Example:

• Current Scenario: A cross-border worker living in Lugano and spending CHF 2,500 per month on rent could benefit from a CHF 30,000 contribution for energy renovation, reducing housing costs by 15%.
• Future Scenario: With the new housing plan, the same cross-border worker could obtain a CHF 20,000 contribution for the purchase of a property, further reducing housing costs.

Conclusion

The structural housing plan announced by Franzolini represents an important step towards resolving housing and energy issues for cross-border workers. It is essential to stay informed and take advantage of the opportunities offered by the new plan to improve quality of life and reduce housing costs.

⚠️ Attention: Regulations and incentives may vary from municipality to municipality. Make sure to consult official sources and stay regularly updated on news.

Source: varesenoi.it