Following the Paris agreement and the agreements with the EU, the Dutch government has made their climate agreement with the goal for the whole built environment to be energy-neutral and free of natural gas by 2050. The Dutch government has tasked the municipalities to lead this process as they are the most suited party. The Dutch building stocks for housing consist of a substantial part of condominium associations where only 25% scores an energy label B. Especially in the bigger cities, the building stock consists of a large part out of condominium associations. As municipalities can not force them to renovate, they have a slow decision-making process, and there are complex ownership situations, the energy transition for condominium associations is a big challenge. This research focuses on the larger associations (6+ members) as group dynamics also start to play a role. This research aims to advise the municipalities on their approach and position in the energy transition for condominium associations. To achieve this goal, the research focusses on the following main research question:

‘How can municipalities enhance their approach for stimulating condominium associations to renovate their dwelling for the energy transition?’

First, to answer this question, a literature review was carried out to create the theoretical framework. The literature review looked at public policy, energy-efficient governance and different types of policy instruments governmental bodies can use to stimulate people. In addition to that, the literature review also looked at the customer journey of condominium associations. The review on the customer journey also includes transaction costs, collective decision-making processes and stakeholder analysis. With this literature review, two frameworks have been created. First, one framework has been created to study the approaches of different municipalities and one to discover the different barriers that condominium associations encounter in their process. Second, with the framework for the customer journey as a basis, the first round of interviews was held with actors close to condominium associations. This discovered where the barriers lie for condominium associations and what municipalities could do about that. This focuses on the three different types of barriers that condominium associations can encounter: transaction cost barriers, collective decision-making barriers, and barriers to comprehending and applying for the help of municipalities. Third, the second round of interviews was held with representative stakeholders to study Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht approaches. By looking at the research variables of the framework, it was possible to compare and analyse the approaches. From this analysis, lessons were drawn about the approaches of the municipalities and the barriers. Fourth, the barriers encountered by the condominium associations in Amsterdam were compared with the analysis of the approaches of the different municipalities to see if the approach of the municipality of Amsterdam could be enhanced. This piece of advice was generalized to enhance the approach of municipalities for stimulating condominium associations for the energy transition which states that:

The municipalities should become the facilitator of the energy transition, and condominium associations should be assisted wherever they can be in the customer journey. Municipalities should look for ways to make this possible. Five tasks are given to do this;

Instigating
Municipalities should raise awareness and engage condominium associations to stimulate more condominium associations to renovate their building.

Teaching.
More adequate boards and well-functioning condominium associations must be created by ensuring basic understanding with condominium associations of what it means to be one.

Guiding ans assisting.
Municipalities must assist and help condominium associations in their customer journey to help them overcome barriers to ensure that more condominium associations finish their journey.

Take away barriers.
The municipalities should look for general barriers for all condominium associations and see if there are ways to make this process easier.

Communication and Collaboration.
To prevent them from all inventing the wheel, municipalities must start working together with market parties and each other. This collaboration helps with sharing and understanding the problems and barriers better.

The full advice, together with practical recommendations, answers the main research question.