Energy transition: condominiums are taking action, despite the obstacles

While the energy renovation of condominiums remains one of the main challenges of the ecological transition, the sector is evolving in an unstable political context and a regulatory trajectory that is still difficult to read.

Repeated adjustments to support schemes, the continued rise in the cost of materials and energy, and the complex readability of policy guidelines in this area have contributed to slowing the momentum of renovation and maintaining a climate of uncertainty for both co-owners and industry players.

In this context, the Hellio group, a pioneer in energy management in France, has produced a barometer highlighting the feelings of co-owners regarding energy renovation as well as the evolution of their priorities since 2021. Although co-owners are aware of their obligations and the importance of energy renovation, the instability of recent schemes, the cost of work and the complexity of the procedures still constitute major obstacles.

Better-informed co-owners, but who are suffering from an unstable political context forcing them to postpone their projects

Nearly half of respondents (48,6%) believe that renovation grant programs remain too unstable, while 24,7% criticize the administrative complexity of the procedures. These obstacles hinder renovation projects, despite a growing awareness of their necessity. Meanwhile, condominium fees remain high, primarily due to the continued rise in energy costs. In fact, 40,6% of those surveyed estimate that energy costs represent between 20% and 40% of their expenses—a level that is slightly lower than in 2023 (50%) but still higher than that observed in 2021 (40%). Energy bills thus continue to weigh heavily on condominium budgets, reinforcing the need to invest in sustainable and more energy-efficient solutions.

In this context, awareness and understanding of the regulatory framework are clearly improving. By 2025, 57,6% of co-owners report being aware of the obligations related to the Energy Performance Diagnosis (DPE) and the multi-year work plan, whereas in 2023, nearly half of respondents (49%) were unaware of their obligations. This increase is largely explained by the implementation of the schedule for banning the rental of energy-inefficient housing, which came into effect at the beginning of the year and is now known to 96,2% of respondents, an increase of 10 percentage points compared to 2023 (86%).

But this new constraint raises concerns: 77,8% of co-owners believe it risks worsening the housing crisis, while 17,1% see it as a strong signal to accelerate the energy transition.

A willingness to act, but a sharp decline in investment capacity

In a context marked by rising energy prices and economic instability, co-owners are showing a growing willingness to undertake energy renovation work. However, this intention still faces numerous obstacles, particularly financial and administrative ones, which limit the implementation of these projects.

In 2025, 43,3% of co-owned properties report planning energy renovation work at various timeframes. This level, a slight increase compared to 2023 (40%), remains lower than that observed in 2021 (47%). While 8,9% of co-owned properties wish to begin this year, the majority prefer to postpone the work: 22,3% to the medium term (two to four years) and 12,1% beyond. This timeframe illustrates a genuine but delayed commitment, often contingent on insufficient financial resources.

The caution of co-owners is largely explained by a decline in investment capacity. In 2025, only 35,5% say they are prepared to allocate between €1.000 and €5.000 to energy renovation over the next five years, compared to 48% in 2023 and 43% in 2021. This decrease reflects the current economic pressure and confirms that financing remains a central—and often blocking—lever for the energy transition in co-owned properties.

Structural obstacles that constrain the implementation of ambitious energy projects

When considering renovations, co-owners prioritize single-step projects that are the most readily available through funding. Exterior wall insulation (20,5%) and roof insulation (15,2%) are the most popular choices, accounting for more than a third of planned projects. These recurring projects, undertaken year after year, reflect a search for concrete, high-impact solutions, while comprehensive renovations, which are more expensive and complex to organize collectively, remain marginal (7,7% of respondents), even though they are still the most effective solution.

These choices are also explained by the motivations of the co-owners, which remain constant over the years. Increasing the property's value remains the primary reason cited by 29,6% of respondents, ahead of reducing energy bills (25,8%) and improving thermal comfort (23,2%). This hierarchy of priorities reveals a primarily pragmatic approach: co-owners seek to reconcile profitability, energy savings, and an improved living environment.

But between intention and action, numerous obstacles remain. The main barriers to implementation are primarily economic and administrative. The cost of the work is cited as the primary difficulty by 27,6% of co-owners—a figure significantly lower than in 2023 (81%) and 2021 (75%), but one that still reveals a persistent obstacle. Furthermore, 16,7% of respondents mention the complexity of the available aid and procedures, confirming that the clarity and stability of public programs still need improvement.

These findings highlight the need to simplify and make support mechanisms sustainable, in order to remove the obstacles that still hinder the momentum of energy renovation within co-owned properties.

According to Louis-Marie Gillier, Sales Manager for Collective Housing at Hellio: “Today, co-owners are showing a growing desire to undertake energy renovation work, aware of the importance of reducing their bills and increasing the value of their property. However, between the instability of aid programs, administrative complexity, and the continuous rise in energy and material costs, taking action remains too limited. These obstacles persist despite a better understanding of regulatory obligations, such as the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or the multi-year work plan, and despite the growing awareness of the need for the energy transition. Faced with this situation, Hellio has formulated six proposals for public authorities to simplify procedures, stabilize aid, and better support property managers and co-owners in their energy renovation projects. It is essential that these support mechanisms be implemented quickly so that intentions translate into concrete actions. Only a coordinated approach, combining financial support and clear guidance, will unlock the renovation potential of co-owned properties and contribute effectively to the energy transition in France.”