Who is eligible for home improvement grants in France?

MaPrimeRénov (Maprimerenov.gouv.fr) consolidates in one place all grants and tax credits available to householders who insulate their properties or replace old heating boilers with more efficient systems.

Until now, government grants were spread across ministries, agencies and local government, and the new system means they will be in one place. The scheme is already available to families on lower incomes, and will replace the old Crédit d’impôt pour travaux d’économies d’énergie (CITE) system, which is being phased out.

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The bonus will also be available for work in multi-occupier buildings and will be open to landlords as well as owner-occupiers. Announcing the extension of the new scheme, housing minister Emmanuelle Wargon said its budget will be more than €1billion, compared to the €800million for CITE. In a radio interview, she said that, out of €15billion unveiled by President Macron in July for ecology projects, between €4billion and €5billion will be set aside for energy-efficient building and renovation. Mr Macron’s “major renovation programme” is set to start with green energy schemes for the country’s schools and nursing homes.

Since its launch in January, MaPrimeRénov has not been as successful as hoped, with around 70,000 requests for bonuses made by June, due in part to the health crisis, according to a report drawn up in June by the finance committee of the National Assembly, the agency responsible for distributing it. The government had a target of 200,000 cases being accepted by the end of the year.

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Even so, the agency running the scheme, Agence Nationale de l’Habitat (Anah), said in a statement the scheme was a “real success”. It warned of an increase in crooked practices linked to the scheme, including “aggressive and fraudulent sales practices”, as well as a rise in amounts quoted for work that might be eligible for the grants. Partly because of such problems, rules for insulating the exterior walls of houses and flats have been changed, with the amount taken into consideration reduced to €60/m² for those with “modest incomes” and €75/m² for those on “very modest incomes”. You can find out more at faire.gouv.fr or by calling 0 808 800 70 for free assistance.