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All you need to know about energy renovations aids
We tell you everything you need to know when applying for aid to finance your energy-saving improvements (French residents only).
To finance your energy-saving improvements, the first thing to do is to identify the various forms of aid to which you are entitled and that can be used to build your overall financing plan. Of course, this should be done BEFORE requesting quotes and beginning the work. This will avoid any unpleasant surprises.
- Where to find information and whom to contact for renovation aid?
- Public aid that can be requested from France Renov'.
- Aid to be requested from your energy provider.
Where to find information and whom to contact for renovation aid?
For greater clarity and efficiency, the government and the National Housing Agency (ANAH) have launched “France Rénov’”. This public service brings together all existing aid and assistance schemes, which were previously split between ADEME and ANAH.
In practical terms, it provides households with free technical assistance regarding the work they can undertake, legal and social assistance to help them with formalities, and financial assistance to mobilise all aid available in their region and direct them towards competent professionals.
Designed as a local service, “France Rénov’” consists of a website, which offers a simulation tool to identify the financial aid available for the energy renovation of your home, as well as a directory of RGE environmentally certified and qualified contractors, a dedicated telephone number (08.08.800.700, free service, non-premium number), and a network of 450 branches throughout France.
In addition, you can use the services of a “Rénov’ Assistant”. These assistants, who are accredited by the State, will advise you on the nature of the work you can carry out in your home, will refer you to RGE environmentally certified professionals, and will advise you on the aid to which you are entitled.
There are a large number of public financial aid programmes and private schemes available, some of which are means-tested, some of which are limited to certain types of works, and some of which require the use of recognised professionals, and which may or may not be combined.
Below is an overview of the main schemes you may be able to tap into in connection with your energy renovations.
Public aid that can be requested from France Renov'
To be eligible for aid, energy renovations must be carried out by RGE environmentally certified contractors, i.e. contractors who specialise in energy-saving work and the installation of equipment using renewable energies. To access the list of RGE environmentally certified professionals, visit the “J’écorénove mon logement” website.
MAPRIMERÉNOV'
MaPrimeRénov’ provides financial aid for energy renovations and/or expenditures.
Eligible work:
- Insulation work (roof, attic, windows, walls, floor, etc.);
- Installation of efficient heating equipment (very energy efficient boilers, heat pumps, wood heating, individual solar water heaters, thermodynamic water heaters, etc.);
- Installation of a heating control system;
- Installation of a ventilation system (double-flow CMV, single-flow CMV, etc.).
Note that since 1 February 2023, subsidies for the acquisition of a controlled mechanical ventilation system or a pellet stove are less attractive. In addition, from 1 April 2023, the 1000€ bonus for replacing a fuel oil or gas boiler with renewable energy equipment has been deleted.
Who is eligible?
The programme is open to all households, whether homeowners, landlords or commonhold owners, and is not means-tested.
The property must be occupied as the primary residence and must have been built more than 15 years ago.
What amount is available?
The amount of the bonus is calculated based on household income. To get an idea of the amount for which you may be eligible, visit the “France Rénov” website.
Do special conditions apply?
To qualify for MaPrimeRénov’, the work must be performed by an RGE environmentally certified professional.
Note that MaPrimeRénov’ can be combined with:
- The Energy Bonus (to benefit from both bonuses, you must first apply for the Energy Bonus);
- The interest-free Eco-loan;
- VAT at a reduced rate of 5.5%;
- The energy cheque;
- Aid that may be offered by local authorities.
A decree published in the Journal Officiel requires the services of a “Rénov’ assistant”, from 1 September 2023, for aid applications involving at least two types of work eligible for MaPrimeRénov’ if the cost exceeds 5000€ and the amount of aid requested is over 10 000€. The decree further provides that “This also applies to work that is the subject of separate aid applications exceeding these thresholds that are made within three years of the first aid applications submitted”.
Created by the Climate and Resilience Act, “Rénov assistants” are advisors tasked with supporting households wishing to carry out energy renovations on their homes throughout the duration of their project.
How can you benefit from this scheme?
Visit the “France Rénov” website or call 08.08.800.700 (free service, non-premium number). The bonus is paid within one month following completion of the work.
MAPRIMERÉNOV' SÉRÉNITÉ
It replaces the “Habiter Mieux” programme of the French National Housing Agency (ANAH).
Eligible work:
- Insulation work (roof, attic, windows, walls, floor, etc.);
- Installation of efficient heating equipment (very energy efficient boilers, heat pumps, wood heating, individual solar water heaters, thermodynamic water heaters, etc.);
- Installation of a heating control system;
- Installation of a ventilation system (double-flow CMV, single-flow CMV, etc.).
Who is eligible?
MaPrimeRénov’ Sérénité is aimed at low-income and very low-income homeowners, landlords and commonhold owners.
The property must be occupied as the primary residence and must have been built more than 15 years ago.
What amount is available?
The amount of the bonus is calculated based on household income. To get an idea of the amount for which you may be eligible, visit the “France Rénov” website.
Do special conditions apply?
To qualify for MaPrimeRénov’ Sérénité, the work must be performed by an RGE environmentally certified professional. Note that MaPrimeRénov’ Sérénité can be combined with energy savings certificates (CEE).
In addition, a decree published in the Journal Officiel requires the services of a “Rénov assistant” for aid applications submitted, from 1 January 2023, for work eligible for the “MaPrimeRénov’ Sérénité” extensive renovations aid if the cost exceeds 5000€ (including VAT).
How can you benefit from this scheme?
Visit the “France Rénov” website or call 08.08.800.700 (free service, non-premium number).
MAPRIMERÉNOV' SÉRÉNITÉ COPROPRIÉTÉ
MaPrimeRénov’ Copropriété helps finance energy renovations in the common areas of commonhold properties.
Who is eligible?
Commonhold owners via the commonhold owners’ association.
What amount is available?
This aid is paid to the commonhold owners’ association and finances 25% of the commonhold owner’s share of the work, capped at 15 000€ per property.
Additional individual assistance of 750€ and 1500€ per unit is available for low-income and very low-income commonhold owners, respectively. The scheme also provides two bonuses of 500€ per unit if the building ceases to be an energy sieve or achieves “Low Energy Consumption Building” status. Commonholds in difficulty are eligible for an additional bonus of 3000€ per unit.
Do special conditions apply?
To qualify for MaPrimeRénov’ Sérénité, the work must be performed by an RGE environmentally certified professional.
Note also that decisions concerning the performance of work in the common areas or on commonhold’s equipment must be adopted by all commonhold owners and voted on at a general meeting.
You should be aware that, in most cases, energy renovations in your individual unit will also require the approval of the other commonhold owners. Why? Because usually this work will result in aesthetic and/or structural changes to the building (installation of new windows, the need to drill into a load-bearing wall to install a boiler, etc.).
In all cases, before undertaking any work, contact your property management company to be certain.
In addition, the work must provide a significant improvement in comfort and energy performance, i.e. energy savings of 35% or more. To be sure, BEFORE requesting any quotes or undertaking any work, it is essential to have an energy audit performed by an RGE environmentally certified professional. This will provide you with an accurate assessment of your home’s energy consumption and a clear picture of the work needed to achieve an energy savings of 35% or more.
Finally, note that in order to be entitled to the MaPrimeRénov’ Copropriété aid, the property management company must first register the commonhold on the national register of commonholds. In addition, the energy renovation work will require the services of a project owner assistance company (POA). ANAH will finance 30% of the cost of the POA services, up to a maximum of €600, excluding VAT, per unit, with a minimum grant of 900€ for POA services for the smallest commonholds. Under certain conditions, the POA service may be provided by the construction project manager.
How can you benefit from this scheme?
Visit the “France Rénov” website or call 08.08.800.700 (free service, non-premium number).
LOCAL AID SCHEMES
In addition to the national aid programmes, there are many local aid schemes available to help you improve the energy performance of your home. It should also be noted that certain local authorities (municipalities, departments, etc.) temporarily exempt households that carry out energy-saving work from property tax. The exemption may be total or partial.
DENORMANDIE SCHEME
This aid is in the form of a tax reduction. The work must improve the home’s energy efficiency by at least 20% for flats and 30% for single-family homes. At least two of the following types of work must be carried: replacement of a boiler or hot water production system, insulation of attics, insulation of walls, installation of double glazing.
Who is eligible?
This scheme is aimed solely at landlords wishing to invest in rental property in a neighbourhood designated “Cœur de ville”.
To find out if the property you are interested in has been designated “Cœur de ville”, use the simulator set up by the French government’s official website, accessible here.
What amount is available?
The amount of the tax reduction will depend on how long the property will be available for lease on the market. The longer you choose to rent your property, the greater the tax deduction will be.
Do special conditions apply?
The value of the rental property must not exceed 300 000€, up to a maximum of 5500€/m2.
How can you benefit from this scheme?
You must declare your rental investment when you file your annual income tax return.
If you file online, tick the “Rental investments” box in the “Expenses” section. If you file your tax return in paper format, enter the cost price of your Denormandie rental investment on your supplementary 2042 C income tax return, in the box corresponding to the duration of your rental commitment.
You must also complete the sections of the 2044 EB return specific to the Denormandie scheme and, in particular, enter the length of the rental commitment chosen (6, 9 or 12 years).
In all cases, you must also include:
- A copy of your lease;
- The tax notice of the tenant occupying the dwelling;
- A note summarising the work carried out and its cost.
Aid to be requested from your energy provider
How does the Energy Bonus work?
Energy providers offer their customers energy savings opportunities, either by carrying out energy renovations or by encouraging the use of more energy-efficient appliances. In practical terms, households that undertake home renovations can receive a bonus to cover a portion of the cost of the work.
Who is eligible?
All private individuals, whether landlords or tenants, are eligible for this bonus it if they undertake energy-related work.
The flat or house in which the energy renovations are carried out must have been built for more than two years on the date the work begins (signature of a quote or purchase order, payment of a deposit, or any other written commitment made to the professional selected).
The property may be the primary residence or a secondary residence.
What amount is available?
The amount is not fixed. It depends on the type of work carried out (insulation, heating, controls or ventilation), the region in which your home is located, and your reference taxable income. To calculate the amount to which you may be entitled, visit the “France Rénov” website.
Do special conditions apply?
Yes. The work must be performed by an RGE environmentally certified professional.
How can you benefit from this scheme?
Note: you must apply for your Energy Bonus BEFORE signing your quote.
1. To find out if a company pays Energy Bonuses, simply type its name followed by “Energy Bonus” in your web browser’s search bar. Your bonus will depend on your profile and your wishes: some companies pay in cash, others in vouchers or credit notes.
2. After choosing the energy provider, select an RGE environmentally certified professional to perform the work.
3. Then send your quote to the energy provider from which requested your Energy Bonus.
4. When the work has been completed, send the energy provider an affidavit, completed jointly with the RGE environmentally certified contractor who performed the work, together with the total invoice for the work.
Generally, the Energy Bonus is paid between four weeks and several months after the invoice for the work has been submitted.
Are you entitled to an energy “helping hand”?
The “helping hand” bonuses are financial aid to individuals, which are granted by energy providers under the energy savings certificate scheme to finance certain energy renovations.
Although the “Helping Hand” bonuses for the installation of very energy efficient gas boilers or energy efficient electric radiators were deleted in 2021, the “Heating Helping Hand” and “Energy Efficient Single-Family Home Renovations Helping Hand” schemes are still available.
Who is eligible?
Eligibility depends on the bonus you are seeking.
- The “Heating Helping Hand” bonus, which can be used to finance the installation of an energy efficient biomass boiler, a very energy efficient wood-burning heating system, a heat pump (air/water, water/water or hybrid), a combined solar system or the connection to a heat network powered by renewable energies, is available to all households (homeowners or tenants). However, the bonus amounts awarded will differ depending on the household’s resources. Note that the “Heating Helping Hand” is applicable to primary and/or secondary residences.
- The “Energy Efficient Single-Family Home Renovations Helping Hand”, which is granted for extensive renovations, is reserved for owners of single-family homes that have been completed for more than two years. The home must be the primary residence and must be located in mainland France.
What amount is available?
The amount varies depending on the nature of the work and your income level. Low-income households (reference taxable income of less than 27 896€ for a couple in the region) are eligible for a higher bonus than other households.
Do special conditions apply?
For the “Energy Efficient Single-Family Home Renovations Helping Hand”, the work must result in a reduction in primary energy consumption (heating, air conditioning and hot water) of at least 55%. In addition, the work must begin before 31 December 2025 and be completed before 31 December 2026.
The work must also be performed by an RGE environmentally certified professional. The same requirements apply to the “Heating Helping Hand”.
How can you benefit from this scheme?
1. Choose an RGE environmentally certified professional to perform the work.
2. Sign the quote the contractor proposes.
3. Have this professional perform the work.
4. Submit the supporting documents for your work to the energy provider you have chosen.
Of course, these various types of aid and bonuses can be used to supplement regulatory or bank loans to finance your work.
You may also like this article: All you need to know about energy renovations: why, for whom and how?
We hope that this article helped you!
Copyright Uni-médias -Last updated March 2023.
Article for information and advertising purposes. The information in this article is provided for information purposes only and Crédit Agricole declines all liability in connection therewith. It is in no way intended to replace the reader’s own knowledge and expertise. You are strongly recommended to seek professional advice. First published: December 2023.
First published: December 2023.
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