Lift grant
Housing services promote the construction and implementation of new lifts in Kuopio. A total of 100 new lifts have been completed in old apartment buildings between 1997 and 2023. The lift improves accessibility and comfort and increases the value of the house and shares. Kuopio still has many three-story or higher apartment buildings without lifts.
A grant can be applied for the construction of lifts for apartments buildings from the Centre for State-Subsidised Housing Construction (Varke) and the City of Kuopio. The purpose of the lift subsidy is to install a new lift in an old apartment building that does not already have a lift in its stairwell. The City of Kuopio’s grant is 25 per cent and Varke’s grant maximum of 35 per cent of the total costs, or a total of 60 per cent. Receiving the city grant requires a positive decision by Varke to implement the lift, while the Varke grant must be applied for before starting the work. The city can grant a maximum of EUR 40 000 per lift. More information can be found on Varke’s website (only in finnish).
The City of Kuopio assists the planning of lifts with a smaller amount (EUR 2 000 per stairwell or EUR 4 000 if there are two or more stairwells). Granting the planning grant does not require the construction of a lift, but it makes it possible to study the possibilities of implementing the lift and alternative solutions. After the implementation decision, a more detailed lift plan is included in the lift grant.
In addition to the lift subsidy, Varke also grants aid for the removal of other obstacles to mobility, such as the automation and widening of exterior doors and the construction of the necessary ramps and railings. For these, the Varke’s grant is also maximum of 35 per cent of the total costs.