Better Building Finance (BBF) is an independent, expert advisor and the main source for information on Environmental Upgrade Finance (EUF); created in partnership with the Federal Government. Find out more.
We work as a facilitator with businesses, lenders and councils to manage environmental upgrade agreements – low cost funding for environmental upgrades. Find out more.
An EUF, otherwise known as Environmental Upgrade Agreements (EUA), is an innovative form of finance that allows building owners to go solar, or increase their building’s energy efficiency through low cost loans. Find out more.
Both terms refer to the finance agreement between building owner, council and lender that aims to make environmental upgrades possible to existing buildings. Find out more.
In South Australia the legislation is known as Building Upgrade Finance (BUF) and can include heritage upgrades. That’s it!
Talk to us for more information.
To be eligible for an Environmental Upgrade Finance (EUF) you must be living within a participating council municipality. Not all councils offer EUF, so check if your council does, or talk to a member of the Better Building Finance team.
Environmental finance is borrowed from a participating funding partner. Check out our partners’ page to see who offers this type of finance.
You will be required to pay an administrative fee, which can be included in the overall finance amount. Fees vary based on council area, to find out how much you would pay, talk to us.
If you want to go solar, or have found a way to increase your building’s energy efficiency and would like to apply for an environmental upgrade agreement (EUA), you can do so by contacting us.
If the works involve upgrades to improve energy efficiency or increase renewable energy, you will be required to undertake an energy assessment. To find out what assessment you need to undertake, based on your states requirements, talk to us.
Building owners in New South Wales are obliged to report to the council and finance provider on the commencement and completion of works, as well as annual reviews to the council and tenant on environmental performance. For building owners in Victoria, Better Building Finance may request updates on your projects performance from time to time. Talk to us to find out more. Talk to us to find out more.
Repayments are made directly to your council through your rates. The council will then make repayments to the finance provider. Talk to us to find out more.
If you make a late payment you will be required to pay penalty interest. Talk to us to find out more.
If you default on a payment, your council will work to recover the charge to repay the finance provider. You will be charged penalty interest and may be subject to legal proceedings in circumstances where the repayment cannot be recovered. The repayment will be prioritised over any other non-council charges or encumbrances over the land.
Recovering costs of the environmental upgrade works from your tenant varies by state. To find out if you can pass the cost through to the tenant talk to us for more information.
Your obligation, as building owner, to make repayments remains regardless of whether a tenant defaults. Your rights against the defaulting tenant would be determined by the terms of the particular lease. Talk to us for more information.
You must get the consent of the finance provider and the council to any sale or dealing in the land (other than leases). In some circumstances it is possible that consent may be refused. In this case, you can choose to pay out the remaining finance amount in order to proceed with the proposed dealing. If you want to assign your obligations under the agreement, the purchaser would need to sign a deed poll agreeing to be bound by the terms of environmental upgrade agreement. To find out more, talk to us.
If the finance has already been applied to the building, the repayments will still remain on the land until it is paid. If the conversion involves a dealing or subdivision of the land you will need the consent of the other parties.
If you want to go solar, or have found a way to increase your building’s energy efficiency and would like to apply for Environmental Upgrade Finance (EUF), you can do so by talking to us. We will help you to negotiate the arrangement with your building owner and local council.
No, you’re not a party to the Environmental Upgrade Finance.
Mandatory repayments vary based on state. To find out if you are required to contribute to repayments call us on 1300 432 044 or talk to us for more information.
New tenants must be given notice of the agreement, the charge and any liability for contributions prior to execution of the lease or occupation of the building. This may vary by state, talk to us for more information.
You should find out:
If you’re unsure, talk to us for more information.
Depending on the terms of your lease, you would only have obligations to contribute to payments whilst you are a current tenant of the building and will have no obligation to make contributions beyond this. If you’re unsure, talk to us for more information.