France heatwave: Minister unveils plan to help homes and cities cope

The first steps of an ‘endurance’ plan to equip French homes against heatwaves have been outlined by the government, as France sits on the eve of a potentially historic June heatwave.

It is the first step of a national climate action plan, which looks to bring France in line with current forecasts that temperatures will increase by +4C by 2100. 

The measures largely target property improvements in shared buildings, as well as further incentivising the installation of heat pumps that can cool homes down in summer as well as heat them in winter.

“Just over one in three homes is like a thermal kettle. The heatwave is no longer a meteorological or climatic issue; it is now a matter of social justice,” said Housing Minister Vincent Jeanbrun yesterday (June 17) as he announced the plan. 

While property renovation schemes largely focus on equipping homes for winter (insulation, boilers, etc), increasingly common and hotter summer heatwaves are also an issue. 

In 2022, the fondation pour le Logement des défavorisés (then known as the Abbé Pierre foundation) released a report saying over five million homes in France suffer from overheating in the summer months. 

Co-ownership renovation, heat pump push

Key measures announced as part of the scheme include changing co-ownership renovation rules. 

Co-ownerships (copropriété) were targeted as these are usually blocks of flats, which historically struggle in summer months from overheating due to the close proximity of residences and urban build-up.

Under the new rules, a simple majority of votes would be required for new building renovations, whereas currently most work required two-thirds approval. 

Summer renovation projects (blinds, shutters, fans, etc) may also be funded through collective eco-loans for which co-ownerships can apply, under a last-minute amendment to a housing bill set to be brought forward to MPs. 

In addition, VAT on air-to-air heat pumps will reduce from 20% to 5.5% to encourage more purchases. The government acknowledges that more property owners will want to install air-conditioning due to the heat, but wants to ensure the most eco-friendly options are the most attractive. 

Other changes include new regulations for social housing providers, who must offer an assessment of summer vulnerability for tenants. 

Landlords obtaining renovation loans from the Caisse des Dépôts (French public sector investment fund) must account for summer heat in their works. 

Finally, rules for new housing will be aligned to current temperature trajectories in January 2027. 

Alongside measures targeting homes, cities will also be encouraged to provide green spaces (which help with cooling down areas) as well as increase cooling networks. 

The plan was criticised by the fondation pour le Logement des défavorisés for a lack of ambition.

“The government’s press conference on the eve of another heatwave should have been an opportunity to announce real measures… but while boasting that France would be at the forefront of adaptation, it made no real announcements,” the group said in a statement. 

“The government is content with existing measures and a few vague announcements, such as the census of social housing units without sun protection.” 

The charity states that in 2025, 5,700 people in France died due to heat.