Christophe Béchu confirms the simplification of the energy diagnosis of housing

“There is a calculation bias that I am announcing to correct with a decree for which we are launching consultation this week,” indicates the minister in the columns of Le Parisien.

“The smaller the surface area of ​​a home, the more the share of domestic hot water weighs on its classification, without any real link with the number of occupants,” he says, which results in the fact that “more than 27 % of very small goods, those less than 40m2, are considered as sieves, which does not reflect reality.

According to him, a correction should therefore allow 140.000 homes of less than 40m2 to exit the energy sieve category (labeled F or G).

“The housing which will see its label improved represents 11% of the real estate stock of these areas,” assures Mr. Béchu.

Established in 2006, the DPE classifies housing from A to G based on their energy consumption and, since 2021, their impact on the climate.

A new DPE, which came into force in July 2021, takes into account the impact on greenhouse gas emissions from housing. It is no longer based on occupants' energy consumption bills but on the physical characteristics of the building.

Since January 1, 2023, the most energy-intensive housing (classified G+) has been prohibited for rental and from 2025, the rental of all housing classified G will be prohibited by the Climate law to achieve the climate objectives of France.

“We are not touching the calendar and the ambition, but we are going to clarify certain rules which apply on January 1,” Mr. Béchu said on Sunday.

A first government amendment will be tabled during the Senate reading of the bill on degraded co-ownerships to emphasize that “January 1 is not a cut-off date”.

It will specify that "the need to have carried out work to re-rent a thermal sieve classified G will only apply at the time of renewal of the lease, either by tacit renewal, or at the change of tenant", specifies the minister.

A second amendment will allow, according to the minister, that as soon as co-owners vote in a general meeting on work on common areas, the ban on renting will be "suspended for two years from the date of the vote, the time for it to carry out the works".

Announcements to simplify the MaPrimeRénov' energy renovation aid system should also be made following a meeting on February 15 with the construction industry.