Energy renovation: for 7 out of 10 tradespeople, the steps to access public aid and financing are holding back the start of work

While 51% of craftspeople state that a lack of financial resources is one of the main reasons their clients give for refusing a quote, they try to support them as best they can in their efforts. Thus, more than half of craftspeople assist their clients themselves in preparing their aid application, 21% outsource this support, and 31% offer financing solutions.

• 71% of tradespeople believe that the procedures for accessing public aid are holding back the start of work, and 69% mention the same difficulties in accessing financing solutions.
• 56% of the craftsmen surveyed are able to support their clients in preparing their application file for MaPrimeRénov' type assistance and 21% subcontract this service.

Access to finance, a major obstacle to the energy renovation of housing

When we know that the average cost of a renovation project in an individual home is 59.197 euros (source: ANAH – January 2025), recourse to government aid and various financing solutions (loans, payment in installments, etc.) is often essential for households. According to craftsmen, the most used financing solutions, apart from cash payment, are government aid (cited by 49% of craftsmen) and amortizable credit (cited by 42% of professionals).

However, access to these solutions is not always easy. 7 out of 10 tradespeople say that the process of accessing financial aid such as MaPrimeRénov', as well as the process of accessing a financing solution, is a barrier to starting work.

Craftsmen, an intermediary to help customers finance their renovation work

Faced with these financial obstacles, RGE craftsmen are positioning themselves as advisors for their clients because they are able to assist them in preparing their application for government aid (56%, -3 points compared to 2024) or subcontract this service (21%, +4 points compared to 2024). They are increasingly numerous in offering varied financing solutions (31%, +6 points) and a third would like to offer more financing solutions to their clients.

45% of craftsmen even say they are interested in having public aid advanced by a trusted third party, as this is often paid several months after the work is completed.

For Franck ONIGA, Managing Director of Sofinco: "The instability of public aid schemes like MaprimRenov' is holding back French people from taking action to renovate their homes. However, this aid is only available to people with very modest incomes, and it is imperative to offer financing solutions for all types of homeowners so that they can increase the value of their property and reduce their energy bills. To develop their activities, renovation professionals must, like car dealerships, revolutionize their distribution and offer, along with their quotes, financing services from a trusted third party."

The Sofinscope – OpinionWay Barometer for Sofinco

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.