The objective of this study is to review how renovation policies are changing, and what political strategies have guided the promotion of housing renovation in the era of sustainability. In this study, renovation policies were compared and analyzed with emphasis on: (1) improvement of physical performance, (2) correspondence to the needs of the elderly, (3) improvement of energy efficiency and, (4) social cohesion and area revitalization. These are the political objectives of renovation that recently emerged as social issues in France, Germany, Denmark and Sweden among European countries that actively conduct renovations. First, Section 2 reviews various social issues relating to existing housing and the objective of promoting renovation. Section 3 describes changes in the role of renovation policies with a focus on changes in financial supports. Section 4 performs a country-by-country cross-analysis of the objectives of renovation and the characteristics of policies promoting renovation. In Section 5, policies designed to promote housing renovation are classified into extension type, individual type, combined type and integrated type depending on the renovation objectives, and the characteristics are identified. In the summary, Section 6, suggestions for policies in the field are proposed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.