Renovating a house in France: what help is available for foreigners?

Reader Question: We have recently bought a home in France and will be moving from the US to France. As we are not citizens, are we able to benefit from any property renovation grants?

Aid schemes for property renovation – and more generally most state aid in France – are usually based on residency status. 

Eligibility requirements are not based on whether a person is a French citizen, but on factors such as whether they have their habitual residence in France. 

Exact conditions differ depending on the type of aid you are applying for. Most grants, benefits and state aid in France typically require applicants to spend the majority of the year in the country, or otherwise have their main economic base in France (completing annual French tax declarations, etc).

A secondary requirement for some aid relating to property changes is that the renovation is not merely aesthetic but provides an ecological benefit (this does not apply, eg. to aid for adaptations for older or disabled people or to deal with substandard housing conditions).

This typically comes through improving the property’s energy performance rating, which can be checked by an inspection called the diagnostic de performance énergétique (DPE), or otherwise installation of renewable energy sources such as solar panels.

The length you have owned a home for is not typically a factor in obtaining a grant, but the property must usually be at least two years old (or 15 for the MaPrimeRénov’ grant).

Aid mostly for main homes

The main eligibility criterion for most renovation schemes is whether the property is a main home or a second home. 

For example, the MaPrimeRénov scheme, the government’s main programme for ecological renovations, is only eligible for main homes (this should usually be where you spend at least eight months of the year).

Second homes can only benefit if they are in a copropriété (shared ownership building, such as a block of flats) where general works are being funded and where the majority of properties are main homes, or if the property is being converted into a main home during the works.

The scheme is means-tested, with lower-income households able to benefit from both higher maximum thresholds and percentages of costs covered. 

Undergoing several iterations – the most recent being an end to funding for many single-action projects – it has also been beset by difficulties and was closed for parts of 2025 while authorities looked into reports of scams linked to the scheme. 

Work typically has to be carried out by someone with RGE-certification.

Part of the application process now requires meeting with an adviser to help plan projects, which should help clarify the process and maximise homeowner benefits.

Similarly, interest-free eco loans (éco-prêt à taux zéro) that can be used to renovate properties are also limited to main homes, with loan amounts based on the project in question.
These are offered by several major banks and financial institutions, and can cover projects including:

• Insulation of roofs, windows, walls, and doors 

• Installation of a heating or hot water system that uses renewable energy and meets certain specifications

Work must again be carried out by an RGE-certified individual – full information on eco loans is available here. 

Other potential sources of aid include funding from local authorities, which is usually limited to main residences (to boost the economic output of the area). 

It is always worth asking the mairie about any financial assistance that may be available.

Second homes benefit from some schemes

Certain schemes are available for both main and second homes, however. 

Items and installations that benefit from reduced VAT (TVA in French) rates due to their ecological credentials see the bonus applied both if being installed for main and second homes. 

Reductions to either 10% or 5.5% (down from the standard 20%) are common for several renovation types, with the lowest rate being specifically for works meeting certain ecological critiera. More information is available on the government website here. 

Similarly, schemes that benefit from certificats d'économies d'énergie (CEE, Energy Savings Certificates) apply to both main and second homes. 

These are typically managed by tradespeople or companies carrying out the work, and can see households save money on many types of ecological renovation, with the funding ultimately coming via energy companies, which have obligations to the state to help people to save energy and use more eco-friendly energy.

However, second homeowners not based in France will be unable to benefit from certain enhanced CEE schemes, which see additional funding for modest incomes, as income levels for eligibility are based on a full French tax declaration. 

Several schemes can be combined for both main and second homes, allowing benefits to stack on top of each other. 

Tax benefits 

Following certain major renovations, you need to declare the works to tax authorities, as this will impact the taxe foncière or property tax levied on the property. 

This is where the works extend the property, create important new amenities, are so substantial as to amount to reconstruction or a change of use of the property. 

Doing these will in many areas provide a two-year grace period from taxe foncière rates increasing based on the increased value of the property (although other taxes on the renovations may still need to be paid). 

Ordinary eco renovations are typically exempt from needing to be declared.

Certain authorities also offer taxe foncière reductions and exemptions following ecological renovations – again, reach out to the local authorities to see what is available in your area.