With MaPrimeRénov' struggling, other energy renovation grants are gaining ground

At the start of 2026, the situation remains tense across the country, with a backlog of 83.000 applications, while the budget allocates 120.000 for renovations. The bottleneck is particularly acute for single-family homes: 52.000 units are available, but 45.000 applications have already been submitted.

In many regions, this saturation is hindering energy renovation projects, even though needs differ greatly depending on urban, rural or peri-urban areas.

But there are other schemes for the energy renovation of housing, recalls Vincent Jeanbrun, Minister of Cities and Housing.

Faced with a constrained budgetary context, the government does not intend to extend the MaPrimeRénov' envelope and is therefore directing households towards other solutions more distributed across the territory: energy saving certificates (CEE), or the zero-interest eco-loan, a bank loan of up to 50.000 euros dedicated to the work.

Vincent Jeanbrun also mentions the future renovation bank aimed at co-ownerships.

Project abandonments in many sectors

On the ground, this instability is worrying those involved in the renovation sector. There is indeed a real problem with MaPrimeRénov', according to Nicolas Moulin, founder of PrimesEnergie, which helps individuals obtain subsidies through energy savings certificates (CEE).

With the budget of 3,6 billion euros, even if you reduce the MaPrimeRénov' subsidy per application, you don't have room for new work, he warns.

In this confusion, some households choose to finance their renovation differently, but there are many who do not start the work, notes Aurélien Déjean, in charge of ecological transition mission at the federation of housing and integration aid associations Soliha.

In areas where individual housing is dominant, such as in many rural departments, quotes can quickly become a major obstacle.

When Fardoussa Ahmed Mohamed received the quote to renovate her newly purchased house, she almost fell to the ground at the amount of 65.000 euros.

As a low-income household, she was ultimately not a priority for receiving aid when the MaPrimeRénov' scheme reopened in September.

To avoid spending the winter freezing with her son, she decided to insulate the roof with the help of friends and install a pellet stove.

With the support of Soliha, she obtained a grant of 1.000 euros and a CEE bonus of 229 euros for the heating system replacement. This was part of a total project cost of 35.000 euros.

"I tightened my belt, I worked overtime, sometimes night and day, and I find it appalling that single mothers aren't helped," laments the 45-year-old caregiver.

Those "stranded by MaPrimeRénov'" are turning to other local solutions

Since the instability of MaPrimeRénov', PrimesEnergie has received more requests from households for CEEs.

Energy Savings Certificates (CEEs) are based on the polluter-pays principle. They allow individuals to receive financial assistance from energy suppliers for energy-saving efforts.

These CEE bonuses can reach several thousand euros for the installation of a heat pump or even 100 euros per window changed, says Nicolas Moulin, who hopes to be able to compensate for the congestion of MaPrimeRénov' with CEEs.

Other companies, such as Hellio or Effy, offer CEE bonuses with different amounts.

However, the associations point out that partial renovations are not always sufficient, particularly in regions with harsh winters or in older housing.

Carrying out only one type of energy work "is not at all like a comprehensive renovation", warns Aurélien Déjean.

Among other financing options that are gaining popularity, some banking solutions are also developing, such as the loan offers dedicated to energy renovation offered by Sofinco, which allow households to finance their work in addition to or as a replacement for public aid.

Meanwhile, the Bordeaux-based company Vasco "has had five times more requests" from July onwards, Hervé Degreve, one of its founders, told AFP.

Vasco offers to finance renovations in exchange for a share of the property's ownership. The company, funded by investors and modeled after a real estate investment trust, thus supports many "MaPrimeRénov' stranded" individuals.

"Tens of thousands of households have embarked on energy renovation, obtained quotes, and find themselves in the middle of the river, with uncertainty about the amount and schedule of subsidies," notes Hervé Degreve.