France announces ban on gas boilers in new homes and expanded electric car leasing

France will ban gas boilers in all new buildings from the end of 2026 and expand electric car leasing programmes as part of a wider push to accelerate electrification and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

The change, announced by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on April 10, aims to limit exposure to volatile gas and petrol prices. 

It comes as households and businesses continue to face fluctuations in energy costs due to the conflict in Iran.

The measure would see households and firms move towards electricity-based heating and transport. Electricity in France is largely produced domestically, including from nuclear power.

What will change in homes and new buildings

From 2027, developers will no longer be able to install gas boilers in new construction projects. 

That includes not only individual houses, but also apartment blocks, offices, shops and other commercial buildings.

For households, the policy effectively locks in electric heating systems as the default option for new properties. 

Heat pumps are expected to become the main alternative, supported by public subsidies and installation targets of around one million units per year by 2030.

Support will be targeted in particular at lower-income households and social housing providers.

In social housing, the government plans a gradual shift away from gas heating in around two million homes by 2050. Around 100 pilot areas are also expected to be selected to move towards “zero gas” heating systems by 2030.

For residents, ministers argue the transition is designed to reduce exposure to sudden rises in gas prices, which have recently been affected by global market shocks, including the instability in the Middle East.

Electric leasing

Transport is the second major focus of the plan, and one that will be more immediately visible to consumers.

The government wants two in three new cars sold in France by 2030 to be electric, backed by expanded purchase incentives and leasing schemes.

From June, an additional 50,000 electric cars will be made available under the subsidised “social leasing” scheme, with monthly payments starting from around €100 for eligible lower-income households.

Further support is planned for those who depend heavily on their vehicles for work, including nurses, tradespeople and care workers. Purchase subsidies could reach up to €9,500 depending on income and vehicle type.

For businesses, incentives will also be increased to encourage the switch to electric vans and lorries, with a target of 50% of utility vehicle sales being electric by 2030.

Energy costs

The government estimates the package could cut France’s fossil fuel consumption by some 30% by 2030, reducing dependence on imported oil and gas, which cost more than €60billion in 2025.

Officials argue that electrification will help stabilise long-term household energy costs, although the transition will require upfront investment in equipment such as heat pumps and electric vehicles.

Although presented as a major policy shift, these measures do not necessarily require new legislation. 

In France, building standards and energy performance rules are typically implemented through regulatory instruments rather than parliamentary votes.

That means the changes are likely to be introduced through decrees or ministerial orders published in the Journal officiel, provided they fit within existing construction and energy law frameworks.