Status: May 2026 · KfW 455-B available since 8 April 2026 wieder — Budget €50 million

KfW funding for bathroom renovation:
Combine grant, loan and care fund

KfW supports your bathroom renovation 2026 wieder: up to 6.250 € grant, up to 50.000 € loan, plus up to 4.180 € from the care fund. All programmes, requirements, eligible measures and the application process on one page.

Currently important: The 455-B grant has been available since 8 April 2026 wieder. Annual budget €50 million, expected to be exhausted in summer 2026 erwartet. Apply now.

Overview of KfW programmes

Care fund 4.180 €

Further funding options

Submit application

The following text is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice

What is the KfW funding for your bathroom renovation?

KfW funding includes two key programmes from the state development bank Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW): the 455-B „Barrier Reduction“ investment grant and the 159 „Age-Appropriate Conversion“ loan. Both are aimed at private individuals wishing to adapt their bathroom to be age-appropriate or barrier-free, and are accessible regardless of age or care level.

Additionally, the care fund covers up to 4.180 € of the renovation costs for those with a recognised care level under § 40 SGB XI. Personal contributions can also be claimed for tax purposes under § 35a EStG at 20 percent of labour costs (up to a maximum of 1.200 € per year). At a glance:

	Requirements & Application	Funding amount
KfW 455-B Investment Grant	Requirement: Private individual, execution by specialist company Application: online via the KfW grant portal, before the project begins	10%, max. 2.500 € per residential unit. Standard Age-appropriate House: 12.5%, max. 6.250 €
KfW 159 loan	Requirement: Owner, tenant, homeowners' association, property developer Application: via your main bank, before awarding the contract	up to 50.000 € per residential unit, approx. 2.35 to 3.54% effective (as of May 2026)
Care fund § 40 SGB XI	Requirement: Care level 1 to 5 Application: with the care insurance fund, 3-week deadline with approval by default	up to 4.180 € per person, up to 16.720 € in multi-person households
§ 35a EStG Tax Reduction	Requirement: Invoice with separate labour costs, transfer to the tradesperson Application: in the income tax return	20% of labour costs, max. 1.200 € per year

KfW investment grant (455-B)

The 455-B investment grant, officially „Barrier Reduction – Investment Grant“ (formerly „Age-Appropriate Conversion – Investment Grant“), is the main KfW funding for private individuals wishing to adapt their bathroom to be age-appropriate or barrier-free. It is a direct grant that does not need to be repaid. Requirement: The application must be submitted before the start of construction, and the work must be carried out by a specialist company.

Important

The programme was reopened on 8 April 2026 after a longer suspension. Conditions unchanged, annual budget 2026 jedoch only 50 million euros (previous years: 150 million euros). Industry associations expect funds to be exhausted by summer 2026, allocation on a first come, first served basis.

Individual measure

up to 2.500 €

10% of eligible costs per residential unit

For individual barrier-reducing measures such as a level-access shower, a bathtub door, or grab rails. No expert confirmation required. Minimum investment 2.000 €, minimum payout 200 €.

Standard Age-Appropriate Home

up to 6.250 €

12.5% of eligible costs per residential unit

For comprehensive barrier-free renovation that meets the "Age-Appropriate Home" requirements of KfW. Expert confirmation required. Maximum eligible costs 50.000 € per residential unit.

What is eligible for funding?

Eligible costs include construction and material costs, including ancillary construction costs such as consultancy, planning and construction supervision. Gross costs including VAT are recognised. In the bathroom, this particularly includes:

Level-access or walk-in shower, also with shower seat
Tub out, shower in (bathtub replacement with a low-barrier shower)
Installation of a bathtub door (as modernisation of sanitary fittings)
Height-adjustable or raised toilet
Wheelchair-accessible washbasin, at least 0.48 m deep
Permanently installed grab and support rails
Slip-resistant flooring, at least R10 B according to DIN 51097
Door widening to at least 80 cm, opening outwards
Threshold removal, alteration of room layout

What is NOT eligible for funding?

Own work (the work must be carried out by a specialist company and invoiced)
Furniture, electrical appliances and other furnishings
Pure modernisation without reference to barrier reduction
Window replacement (still eligible for BEG funding since 2023 nur)
Costs for financing, insurance, taxes, moving or alternative accommodation

How to apply for the 455-B grant

The application is submitted online via the KfW grant portal before the project begins. public.kfw.deSelect the product ‚Barrier Reduction – Investment Grant‘ and a purpose from the barrier reduction category. You will need the cost estimate or contract from the specialist company carrying out the work. If you renovate with bazuba, you receive everything from a single source: the bazuba contract is sufficient for the application.

After approval, identification is carried out via video or PostIdent, followed by implementation by the specialist company, uploading of invoices, and payment. You can find the complete process further below under Step-by-step application.

KfW 159 loan "Age-appropriate conversion"

The 159 loan is the second KfW pillar for bathroom renovation. Unlike the 455-B grant, it is a subsidised loan that must be repaid. It is suitable if the funding requirement exceeds the 455-B maximum amount or if 455-B cannot be applied for (for example, for developers, housing companies or tenants without a care-related reason).

Terms and conditions

up to 50.000 €

approx. 2.35 to 3.54% effective (as of May 2026)

Per residential unit, up to 100% of eligible costs. Term 4 to 30 years, with 1 to 5 initial years without repayment depending on the option. Bullet loans also possible (4 to 10 years). Binding interest rate only upon approval by your principal bank.

Advantage over 455-B

+ Burglary protection

Also for tenants, homeowners' associations, property developers

In addition to reducing barriers, the loan also supports burglar-resistant doors, mushroom head locks, and alarm systems. Tenants, homeowners' associations, and legal entities who cannot use the 455-B grant are also eligible to apply.

How to apply for the 159 loan

The 159 loan is not applied for directly with KfW, but through a financing partner: your main bank, savings bank or online bank. The process:

Contact your bank before awarding the contract.
The bank submits the loan application to KfW.
Once approval is granted, construction work can begin.
Payout period is 12 months, extendable to a maximum of 36 months.

Important

The 159 loan and the 455-B grant cannot be combined for the same measure. If you wish to use both, you must present two clearly separate projects with their own invoices. A combination with the care fund according to § 40 SGB XI is possible, however.

Tub out, shower in

With Tub out, shower in, you avoid a building site lasting weeks. Only 3 days separate you from a comfortable and safe bathroom.

Care fund: up to 4.180 € grant according to § 40 SGB XI

Anyone with a recognised care level can, in addition to KfW funding, apply for a grant from the care insurance fund. The legal basis is Section 40, paragraph 4 SGB XI ‚Measures to improve the living environment‘The grant is independent of income and can be combined with the 455-B grant and the 159 loan, provided the measures are clearly separable and invoiced separately.

Per person

up to 4.180 €

Care level 1 to 5

Per measure and person in need of care. Care level 1 is sufficient; a higher level is not required. Requirement: The measure enables or facilitates home care or maintains independent living.

Multi-person household

up to 16.720 €

Up to 4 persons in need of care

If several persons in need of care live in the household and all benefit from the renovation, the subsidy accumulates up to 4 × 4.180 €. Typical cases: caring couple or shared care accommodation.

assumption of approval

The long-term care insurance fund has, according to § 40 paragraph 7 SGB XI three weeks to decide on your application (five weeks if the Medical Service is involved). If no decision is made after this period, the application is automatically considered approved. It is therefore advisable to submit your application in writing and request confirmation of receipt.

Which bathroom measures are recognised by the care fund

Level-access shower, remove bathtub and install shower
bathtub door installation (typical bazuba solution)
Permanently installed grab and support rails
Slip-resistant flooring
Height-adjustable or raised toilet
Wheelchair-accessible washbasin
Door widening to at least 80 cm
Removal of thresholds

What counts as a measure

Functionally related interventions are considered together as one measure: A complete bathroom renovation with a walk-in shower, grab rails, widened doors, and new fittings is subsidised with up to a total of 4.180 €. Functionally independent projects (for example, bathroom, stair lift, and external ramp) are counted separately and can be applied for individually.

How to apply for the care fund grant

Apply for a care level with the care insurance fund if not already available.
Obtain a cost estimate from a specialist company, with a clear breakdown of the barrier-reducing items.
Submit an application to the responsible care insurance fund, including the cost estimate and a brief nursing justification. How the justification should be formulated and which documents are required can be found in our Step-by-step guide to care funding.
Wait for the three-week deadline or receive written approval.
Only start the renovation after approval or expiry of the deadline.

No care level? The KfW programmes 455-B and 159 as well as the tax reduction according to § 35a EStG are independent of care level. Those without a recognised care level can still use these funding options.

The bathtub door for your existing bathtub

A bathtub door is the ideal solution if you want to enter your existing bathtub quickly and easily.

Other funding options: health insurance, taxes, federal states

Health insurance: aids according to § 33 SGB V

The health insurance does not cover structural alterations, but does cover aids such as bath lifts, shower seats and mobile grab handles. A doctor’s prescription is required. The personal contribution is 10% per aid, at least 5 € and at most 10 €.

Distinction

Important for allocation: Mobile grab handles are covered by the health insurance. Permanently fixed grab handles on the other hand, are covered by the long-term care insurance as a measure to improve the living environment.

Tax reduction for tradesman services and care costs

Those who do not use or only partially use public funding can claim their own contribution for tax purposes. Two options are available for bathroom renovation:

§ 35a EStG

20% up to 1.200 €

Craftsman services per year

20% of pure labour costs (excluding materials). Assessment basis max. 6.000 € per year, resulting in a maximum reduction of 1.200 €. Requirement: invoice with separate labour costs and payment made directly to the service provider's account (since assessment period 2025 verpflichtend according to JStG 2024).

§ 33 EStG

Exceptional burden

In case of medical necessity

Own costs above the reasonable burden (1 to 7% of total income) are deductible. Requirement: care level, MD report or official medical certificate, issued before the start of the measures.

Important: No tax bonus with KfW or care fund subsidies

As soon as a measure receives a KfW grant (455-B), KfW loan (159) or care fund subsidy is used, the entire measure is excluded from the tax reduction according to § 35a EStG. Not just the subsidised portion. Basis: KfW information sheet 455-B (as of 04/2026, p. 7) and § 35a para. 3 sentence 2 EStG.

Only parts of the measure that are in a separate invoice and not publicly subsidised are still tax-deductible. Example: If you finance a bath-to-shower conversion via KfW and at the same time have the WC replaced without a subsidy, you can deduct the WC replacement under § 35a, but not the KfW project.

Federal state funding programmes

Several federal states have their own programmes for barrier-free conversion, modernisation or home ownership support. Pure combination with KfW is usually not possible, as many state programmes refinance the KfW funds themselves. Important: Here too, the application must be submitted before awarding the contract.

	Programme	Subsidy
North Rhine-Westphalia	NRW.BANK Home Ownership Subsidy Modernisation	Loans up to 150.000 €, repayment reductions up to 25% depending on income group
Bavaria	BayernLabo Adaptation of Owner-Occupied Housing for People with Disabilities	Low-interest loan plus grant up to approx. 10.000 €
Baden-Württemberg	L-Bank Home Ownership Financing with Accessibility Supplement	Repayment grant 3%, max. 1.500 € for full implementation of DIN-18040-2
Hesse	WIBank Conversion for Accessibility	Grant up to 50%, max. 25.000 € in total, of which bathroom max. 5.500 €
Berlin	IBB Age-Appropriate Living	Interest rate reduction on KfW 159, up to 0.6%/year, max. 50.000 €
Brandenburg	ILB Barrier-Free Conversion	Grant up to 22.000 €, with lift up to 26.000 €
Hamburg	IFB Modular Grants	Ownership and rental, flexible adaptation to the measure

Status

Funding conditions of the federal states as of May 2026. Programmes are sometimes adjusted several times a year; please check with the relevant development bank before submitting your application. Other federal states also offer suitable programmes. A complete overview is provided by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs at bmas.de.

The anti-slip solution for your bathtub or shower

An anti-slip solution is the ideal choice if you wish to enter your existing bathtub or shower safely and without risk of falling.

Which subsidies can be combined?

Using several funding pots at the same time is the lever that can increase the subsidy rate to 30 to 50% of the renovation costs. Rule of thumb: KfW programmes are mutually exclusive, but can be very well combined with care funds, health insurance, and tax benefits, provided the measures are clearly separable and invoiced separately.

Combination	Possible?	Condition
KfW 455-B + KfW 159	❌ No	Not for the same measure. Only possible if there are two clearly separate projects with their own invoices.
KfW + Care Fund § 40 SGB XI	✅ Yes	Different partial measures with separate invoices. Care level 1 to 5 required.
KfW + § 35a EStG	❌ No	The measure subsidised by KfW grant or loan is entirely excluded from the tax bonus (KfW leaflet 455-B, § 35a para. 3 EStG). Only non-subsidised parts of the measure on a separate invoice remain deductible.
Care Fund + § 35a EStG	❌ No	As with KfW: The measure subsidised by the care fund grant is entirely excluded from the tax bonus. Only separate, non-subsidised parts of the measure remain deductible.
Care Fund + § 33 EStG	✅ Yes	Exceptional burden in case of medical necessity. The personal contribution above the reasonable burden is deductible. If a care level is present, the care level notice is sufficient as proof; an additional official medical certificate is not required.
Care Fund + Health Insurance	✅ Yes	Structural measures and aids are separate funds. No offsetting between them.
KfW + State Funding	⚠️ Usually no	Many state programmes refinance KfW themselves and exclude a second KfW subsidy. In individual cases, check with the funding bank.
KfW 455-B or 159 + BEG	✅ Yes	Energy-efficient renovation (BEG 261, 458) and barrier-free conversion are independent; separate applications are required.

Order of applications

If there are several funding sources, the following applies: Submit all applications first, then begin the renovation. Both KfW and the care fund require that applications are submitted before the project begins. Anyone who has already signed contracts or purchased materials risks losing the entire funding. Planning and consultation do not count as the start of the project.

Tub out, shower in

With Tub out, shower in, you avoid a building site lasting weeks. Only 3 days separate you from a comfortable and safe bathroom.

Step-by-step application

KfW grants and care fund grants follow different rules. Both have in common: the application must be submitted before the project begins. Anyone who has already signed contracts or purchased materials risks losing the funding. Planning and consultation do not count as the start of the project.

KfW 455-B Grant 6 steps to your grant

Consult a specialist company, obtain a cost estimate or contract.
Online application in the KfW grant portal public.kfw.de submit before starting your project.
Complete identification via video or PostIdent.
After approval: start implementation with the specialist company.
Upload invoices to the grant portal.
The grant will be paid into your account.

Care fund § 40 SGB XI 5 steps to your grant

Apply for a care level if not already available.
Obtain a cost estimate from a specialist company, clearly itemising barrier-reducing measures.
Submit the application to the relevant care fund, including the cost estimate and care justification.
Wait for the three-week period. After this period, the application is considered approved (approval by default).
Start the renovation, submit the invoice after completion, receive payment.

Special case KfW 159

The KfW loan 159 is not applied for directly with KfW, but rather through a local bank, savings bank, or online bank. The bank checks your creditworthiness, submits the application to KfW, and forwards the approval to you. Please note: The application must be submitted before awarding the contract.

The bathtub door for your existing bathtub

A bathtub door is the ideal solution if you want to enter your existing bathtub quickly and easily.

Technical minimum requirements for funding

Anyone wishing to use the 455-B grant or the 159 loan must meet certain technical minimum requirements. These are set out in the KfW annex „Technical Minimum Requirements“ to information sheet 6000004451 (as of 05/2021, still valid). The most important values for the bathroom according to funding area 5 (bathroom renovation) and funding area 4 (removal of thresholds and doors):

Area	Requirement	Value
Bathroom size	Minimum size of sanitary room	min. 1.80 × 2.20 m
Movement area	Centrally in front of each sanitary fixture, overlapping of areas permitted	min. 0.90 × 1.20 m
Distance	Between sanitary fixtures or to the side wall	min. 0.25 m
Internal door	Clear passage width (funding area 4)	min. 0.80 m
Internal door	Sliding or opening outwards, can be unlocked from outside	Mandatory in the bathroom
Shower	Level with the floor; if not structurally possible, lowered level	max. 20 mm
Floor	Floor covering slip-resistant or anti-slip (no R-class specified)	Mandatory
Washbasin	Depth, with knee clearance for seated use	min. 0.48 m
Toilet	Seat height according to user’s needs or flexibly mountable in height	As required
Bathtub	Height, alternatively door entry or accessible underneath with lift system	max. 0.50 m

DIN 18040-2 as an alternative

Instead of the KfW's own minimum requirements, you may also meet the requirements of DIN 18040-2 (standard for barrier-free construction in residential buildings). It is stricter and, among other things, requires wheelchair-accessible movement areas of 1.50 × 1.50 m. Both options are eligible for funding.

Frequently asked questions about KfW funding for bathroom renovation in Germany

How much is the KfW funding for bathroom renovation?

The 455-B investment grant amounts to 10% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of 2.500 € per residential unit for individual measures. For the „Standard Age-Appropriate House“ level, it is 12.5% and a maximum of 6.250 € per residential unit. Alternatively, there is the 159 loan up to 50.000 € per residential unit.

When was the KfW 455-B funding restarted?

On 8 April 2026 hat, KfW reopened the 455-B programme after a longer suspension. The annual budget is 2026 beträgt 50 million euros. Industry associations expect the funds to be exhausted by summer 2026; allocation is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Which bathroom measures are eligible for funding?

Level-access shower, bathtub removal and shower installation, bathtub door installation, height-adjustable toilet, accessible washbasin, permanently installed grab rails, slip-resistant flooring, door widening to at least 0.80 m, and removal of thresholds. Own work is not eligible for funding.

Is the installation of a bathtub door eligible for KfW funding?

Yes. The installation of a bathtub door is considered a „modernisation of sanitary objects“ in KfW funding area 5 and is eligible for both the 455-B grant and the 159 loan. In the specialist company’s offer, the measure should be described as a „barrier-reducing modernisation of the bathtub“.

How much is the care fund grant for bathroom renovation?

The care fund pays up to 4.180 € per measure and person in need of care according to § 40 para. 4 SGB XI. The minimum requirement is care level 1. If several people in need of care live in the household, the grant can be combined up to 16.720 €.

What are the requirements for the care fund grant?

A recognised care level from 1 to 5 is required. The measure must enable or significantly facilitate home care, or maintain independent living. The application must be submitted to the care insurance fund before the start of the measure. The care insurance fund has 3 weeks to decide, or 5 weeks if the Medical Service is involved. If no decision is made within this period, the application is considered approved (approval fiction according to § 40 para. 7 SGB XI).

Can I combine the KfW grant and the care fund grant?

Yes, but only for different partial measures with separate invoices. For example, you can settle the level-access shower via the care insurance fund and the widening of the door with grab rails via the KfW. The same invoice must not be submitted twice.

Can I receive a grant for bathroom renovation without a care level?

Yes. The KfW programmes 455-B and 159 are independent of the care level. The tax benefit according to § 35a EStG (20% of labour costs, max. 1.200 € per year) also applies without a care level. Only the care insurance subsidy of 4.180 € requires a care level.

Do I have to fully comply with DIN 18040-2?

No. For individual measures under 455-B, compliance with the KfW’s own minimum values from the annex „Technical Minimum Requirements“ is sufficient. DIN 18040-2 is an alternative way to comply, not a requirement. Only the „Standard Age-Appropriate House“ level requires a more comprehensive implementation.

How does the KfW application process work?

The application must be submitted in the KfW grant portal public.kfw.de before the project begins. The start of the project is the conclusion of the supply or service contract; planning and consultation do not count as the start. After approval, identification is carried out via video or PostIdent, implementation with a specialist company, uploading of invoices, and payment.

Can I claim the bathroom renovation as a tax deduction?

Yes, but with a clear separation. Under § 35a EStG, 20% of pure labour costs can be deducted (calculation basis max. 6.000 € per year, resulting in max. 1.200 € reduction). Important: As soon as a KfW grant, KfW loan or care insurance subsidy is received for a measure, the entire measure is excluded from the tax bonus, not just the subsidised portion. Only parts of the measure that are on a separate invoice and not publicly funded remain deductible. In the case of care needs, § 33 EStG as an extraordinary burden may also apply; the care level notice is sufficient as proof.

What does the health insurance pay for bathroom renovation?

The health insurance does not pay for structural alterations, but for aids such as bath lifts, shower seats and mobile grab rails. A doctor’s prescription is required. The personal contribution is 10% per aid, at least 5 € and at most 10 €. Permanently fixed grab rails, on the other hand, are covered by the care insurance fund.

Who can assist with the KfW funding application?

bazuba provides free advice on all programmes and supports you with the application process, including the care insurance application. With over 35 years of experience and 16 locations, we accompany the entire renovation from consultation to payment. For a renovation by bazuba, our cost estimate or contract for work is sufficient for the KfW application.

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The age-appropriate conversion with bazuba convinces

“We found Bazuba through an advert in a magazine. We arranged an appointment and, thanks to the extremely competent advice from Mr Zugmayer, we immediately decided to replace our bathtub with a shower. It is admirable, especially in today’s often superficial times, how much precision the Bazuba installer put into all the installation work. You can only congratulate a company for having such an employee. This company definitely deserves 11 out of 10 points!”

“I organised the bathtub entry for my mother. We can only recommend this company; from the very first appointment at home to completion, we only dealt with extremely friendly, warm, and competent people. We would like to thank you again here!!”

"I can't thank you enough. For us, it was the best decision. We are more than satisfied with the renovation of our bathroom. Simply a top result from professionals who know their craft. Always punctual, very friendly, helpful, and all our questions were answered in advance. We can absolutely recommend them. Thank you…."