Energy efficiency ratings affect French property price by 25%, notaire data reveals

Energy ratings are beginning to have a substantial impact on France’s property market, new notaire data shows. 

Notably, a surge and then slowdown of sales in the lowest-ranked properties was recorded as bans on letting homes in the lowest category come into force.

It is one of a series of trends picked up by the Notaires de France in its latest report on the nation’s property market.

The data covers the sale of all non-new build properties in France, and is considered the most complete available. 

Released each quarter, notaires use the final section of their report to cover a section of the market, such as prices in coastal or touristic areas. In their latest report notaires review the impact of the diagnostic de performance énergétique (DPE) ratings of properties sold between 2021 - 2024. 

New regulations saw increase in lower rated number of properties sold

Since 2021, properties in France have required a DPE assessment before being put on the market so potential buyers are aware of a property’s energy impact. 

The assessment ranks properties by rating them between ‘A’ (the best) and ‘G’ (the worst) for energy efficiency.

Several changes to the assessment criteria have been made since its initial implementation, with more due in 2026, but the A-G scale remains unchanged.

Note that some homes with an older diagnosis are no longer valid if carried out prior to July 31, 2021.

A ban on letting ‘G’ rated properties is now in place, with ‘F’ (2028) and ‘E’ (2034) set to follow. 

The first phase of the law did not come into force until the start of 2025, but was passed in 2021.

This led to many owners of ‘G’-rated properties opting to sell, possibly as they deemed the properties a poor investment or were potentially concerned about future rules This saw the number of such buildings sold increase from 3% in 2021 to 7% in 2023.

Figures from 2024 saw the number sold at some 6%.

It also saw the number of ‘F’ rated properties increase from 8% to 10%. 

In 2023 ‘F’ and ‘G’ rated properties made up 17% of all home sales. 

The sales of ‘A’ (consistently 2%) and ‘B’ rated properties (5% 2021 - 2022, 4% in 2023 - 2024) have remained stable.

Preliminary data for this year shows that energy efficiency may be becoming more important to buyers. 

‘D’ rated properties are the median and the most purchased non-new build property type (37% in 2021, 32% in 2024). In April - June of 2025 ‘C’ rated properties became the second highest number of properties purchased (23%). 

This puts them above ‘E’ rated properties for the first time, sitting at 21%. 

In comparison in 2021 24% of property sales were of ‘E’ rated homes, and 20% were ‘C’ rated. 

Score can also affect sales price

In addition, DPE ratings can also affect the price of properties, as buyers become more conscious of the benefits of a more energy efficient property, namely in the form of cheaper bills. 

Using a ‘D’ rated property as the average, notaires can assess the change in price based on the DPE rating a property receives. 

For houses sold in 2024, an ’A’ rated property had a median value of +17% compared to a ‘D’ rated property. 

This continues with ‘B’ (+13%) and ‘C’ (+7%). 

However lower ranked properties saw values fall, with ‘E’ (-9% below ‘D’) and ‘F’ (-17%). 

The worst ‘G’ rated properties saw a -25% difference. 

For flats, changes are less pronounced but still significant. 

Again with a ‘D’ rated property taken as the average, ‘A’ properties saw a +16% increase, ‘B’ (+12%) and ‘C’ (+6%).

Lower rated properties saw ‘E’ (-4%) and ‘F’ (-8%), ‘G’ rated properties being -12%.