Four years ago, after finishing university, I decided it was time to leave my grandmother’s panel apartment, where I had been living during my studies. Renting in Budapest was already extremely expensive, so buying a small flat seemed like the only long-term solution — even if it meant taking on a loan. With financial help from my family, especially savings left by my grandmother, I managed to buy a 43 m² apartment in Józsefváros with a 50% down payment. It was a huge step for me toward independence, even though the place needed a significant amount of work.
The flat had been owned by an elderly woman and was in a very dated condition: mismatched green wallpaper everywhere, old linoleum flooring, a worn-out bathroom, a leaky front door, and windows that could barely open without falling apart. On top of that, the apartment’s energy efficiency was extremely poor. As a corner unit on the second floor, it was surrounded by cold exterior walls with no insulation at all. The windows let in wind and rain, the entrance door hardly closed, and the gas convector heating struggled to keep up. In winter, the bedroom was unbearably cold. I often had to sleep in the living room because it was the only space that could be heated properly.
When I bought the apartment, I didn’t have the budget for a full renovation, so I started with the essentials. I completely replaced the electrical wiring — something that simply can’t wait until after moving in. I also relocated the kitchen to a better layout, tore up old tiles, removed wallpaper, and discovered original wooden parquet under the linoleum, which I then had restored. The bathroom got new tiles and fixtures, and my father helped install new flooring in the bedroom. The gas convector heaters remained for the time being, even though I never liked them and always worried about carbon monoxide, especially with pets in the apartment.
Improving the apartment’s energy efficiency became a years-long process. It took me three full years before I could afford new doors and windows. The original ones were dangerous, drafty, and in the bedroom, they were so fragile I avoided opening them. I replaced the two main windows with modern, insulating units — including a triple-glazed window in the living room, the largest surface where heat escaped. The entrance door was also replaced later with a safer, tighter-fitting wooden door.
Unfortunately, finding reliable contractors was one of the worst parts of the process. The first window company I hired turned out to be extremely unprofessional: they delayed the installation for months, ignored my calls, and even left one window half-demolished. At one point, I had no proper internal window panel because they had removed it and then disappeared. I eventually had to get my lawyer involved before the company finally finished the job. By contrast, the carpenter who later replaced my entrance door — recommended by a friend — was the complete opposite: punctual, honest, and affordable. That experience taught me that personal recommendations are far more reliable than flashy online ads.
Over time, the improvements made a noticeable difference. Today, when I sit in the living room, I no longer feel cold air coming from the hallway. The space is still difficult to heat because the entire building lacks insulation, but at least the windows and door no longer work against me. To help with heating costs, I also bought an A+++ inverter air-conditioning unit that can heat and cool. Although many people online claim it can fully replace gas heating, in practice, it’s complicated: electricity prices above the reduced-rate consumption threshold are very high in Hungary. Despite being more energy-efficient, heating with the AC can end up more expensive than using the old gas convector. In shoulder seasons, it works well, but on really cold days, I still rely on gas.
I never received any financial support or grants for these renovations. At the time, I didn’t qualify for any district-level or national subsidies, and the building itself — like many older Budapest blocks — has no access to proper funding for insulation or roof renovation. If there were meaningful, accessible grants for insulating entire buildings, my neighbours and I would absolutely take part. Everyone is willing, but nothing is available that we could realistically apply for.
My choices are influenced partly by environmental awareness — I recycle, I buy second-hand when I can, and I’ve been mostly vegetarian — but I’m realistic. Individual choices matter only up to a point. The real impact has to come from systemic change, from reducing industrial emissions to regulating extreme energy use. Even so, I would take any support that helps make my home warmer, more efficient, and more affordable to maintain. Living in an old, poorly insulated flat, you feel every degree and every forint.
If I could give one piece of advice to anyone starting a renovation, it would be this:
Whenever you choose between a renovated or an unrenovated flat, choose the renovated one. A renovation will always take twice as long and cost twice as much as you expect — even if you plan carefully. And always, always choose contractors based on trusted personal recommendations, not advertisements.