Energy renovation: CAPEB and Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility join forces to remove the obstacle to financing the work

The agreement provides for an information and training program for craftspeople throughout France, as well as the provision of suitable financing solutions, including a dedicated loan offered by Sofinco. It also aims to address a major challenge for craft businesses: cash flow problems related to delays in the disbursement of public subsidies, particularly MaPrimeRénov'.

In a context where housing renovation is essential to achieving France's climate goals, this partnership intends to make financing an operational lever to encourage households and artisans to take action.

A partnership to transform the intention to build into a concrete construction project

France must significantly accelerate the renovation of its residential stock to achieve its climate objectives but above all to help the French reduce their energy expenditure, improve their living comfort and enhance the value of their assets.

Insulation, replacement of a heating system, installation of photovoltaic panels, etc.: these works represent a significant investment for households and the question of financing remains one of the main obstacles to taking action.

It is to address this difficulty that CAPEB and Sofinco are joining forces with a common ambition: to give craftsmen, who are both trusted interlocutors of households, technical prescribers and operational actors of the works, the means to inform their clients about the financing solutions available, in a clear, responsible and regulatory framework.

By facilitating access to responsible financing at the point when the customer makes their decision, the partnership between CAPEB and Sofinco aims to:

• Accelerate the completion of energy renovation work;
• Helping households move from planning to action;
• Securing the activity of craft businesses;
• Reduce project abandonments due to lack of financing solutions;
• Improve the quality of information delivered to customers.

The scheme is primarily aimed at companies committed to the ECO Artisan by CAPEB approach, a CAPEB quality brand dedicated to energy renovation.

Informing and training craftsmen on a subject that has become key for their clients

The partnership is based on an information and training system deployed to the CAPEB network and its 62.000 members.

It includes, in particular:

• A launch webinar for elected officials and staff of CAPEB;
• Sofinco's involvement in the webinars dedicated to energy renovation organized for the network;
• Regular information relayed via CAPEB's communication channels;
• Support and training for approved craftsmen in the distribution of financing solutions, in strict compliance with the regulatory framework.

Tradespeople who wish to do so will be able to receive support in becoming authorized distributors. They will then be able to offer their clients a dedicated credit solution developed by Sofinco, acting as an intermediary and in compliance with their legal obligations.

This approach addresses a real need: individuals are increasingly asking building professionals about the overall cost of their projects, available financial assistance, and financing options. For tradespeople, having a secure framework and a recognized financial partner provides an additional way to finalize quotes and reduce project abandonment.

MaPrimeRénov': also addressing the cash flow challenge of tradespeople

Public subsidies, primarily MaPrimeRénov', supplemented by Energy Savings Certificates and the eco-PTZ loan, help reduce the final cost of renovations for households. However, their implementation often creates operational difficulties: in most cases, these subsidies are paid after the work has been completed.

This delay can have a significant impact on the cash flow of small businesses. Between purchasing materials, mobilizing teams, completing the work, and receiving the actual subsidies, several weeks or even months can pass. For some businesses, this cash advance limits their ability to accept new projects or jeopardizes the financial stability of their operations.

Sofinco addresses this challenge by combining its expertise in financing renovations with its role as a financial agent for the French National Housing Agency (Anah). This capability allows it to support professionals in accessing public subsidies upfront, enabling projects to begin more quickly and under better conditions.

For individuals, the goal is to make financing clearer and more seamless. For tradespeople, it's about securing payment for work and limiting the impact of administrative delays on their cash flow.

For Jean-Christophe REPON – President of CAPEB: “By giving our tradespeople the means to better inform their clients about financing options for renovations, we are removing a very real obstacle to energy-efficient renovations. Small businesses are closest to households and local communities: they must be able to rely on simple, reliable, and compliant tools to turn more projects into actual construction sites.”

For Franck ONIGA - CEO of Sofinco: “Energy renovation cannot happen without tradespeople. Our role, as a credit institution, is to provide them with operational solutions – complementary to public aid – so they can invest in their homes, secure projects, and support the energy transition. Beyond environmental issues, recent heatwaves remind us that home renovation is also a matter of public health and well-being at home. Together with CAPEB, we are therefore putting responsible financing at the service of a matter of general interest.”