MaPrimeRénov': Energy renovation advisors fear for their future

Mandatory since 2024 for any large-scale renovation grant application, the Rénov' support workers (MAR) have developed throughout France, aided and approved by the National Housing Agency (Anah), to follow the enthusiasm of households for energy renovation.

But since last spring, this dynamic has been "broken", due to the closure of the MaPrimeRénov' window for three months this summer and the changes in rules which create a lot of uncertainty for individuals, Sebastian Ruiz, president of the MAR community, told AFP.

While Anah was receiving around 10.000 new applications for MaPrimeRénov' aid for major renovations each month before May 2025, only 6.898 applications have been submitted since the reopening of the office on September 30, a large part of which had spent the summer waiting.

On a personal level, Sebastian Ruiz was getting an average of "10 new projects per month" until March 2025. "Now it's barely one project per month, so 90% fewer prospects," explains this architect by trade.

The observation is of the same order of magnitude for Camille Thomas, president of the company Assistant Rénov: an 80% drop in MAR activity and a reduction in dedicated staff.

Also at the head of the Renomar professional network, she told AFP that "all members are in difficulty, with varying degrees of intensity".

1.500 jobs threatened

Among the 600 MARs who responded to a Renomar questionnaire in October, 71% have "already been forced to take HR measures following the suspension" of the window, and the remaining third plan to take measures in the coming months.

Half of the support providers have laid off staff, or are considering doing so. According to Renomar's estimates, this represents 200 job losses and a 20% reduction in staff over four months, within the network which has 1.000 members.

"It is likely that this number will double by January if the current dynamics continue," worries Rénomar, who calculates that 1.500 jobs are threatened across the entire MAR sector.

The main problem raised by the MARs is the delay in granting subsidies from the Anah and the payment of the balance after the work is completed. Next comes the difficulty of finding new clients.

Within the MAR community, it would be as if one in two jobs (full-time equivalent) were at risk, according to Sebastian Ruiz.

"There are companies that were created in 2025, that invested in recruitment, premises, training, that borrowed money and all of a sudden they found themselves in the red and without activity," reports Sebastian Ruiz, who estimates that this situation concerns "more than 50" of his 200 members.

The market collapse is also affecting "historical players", design offices and consulting firms that work with local authorities on housing renovation and are grouped within the association of consultants in planning and development of territories (Acad).

"We are stopping recruitment for 100% MAR missions" and "the teams are mobilized on other housing improvement missions", explains Julien Fortin, in charge of public relations for the Acad.

For 2026, uncertainty still reigns. "If the market doesn't recover very soon and if the government and the Anah don't send strong messages, it's going to be a catastrophe," warns Camille Thomas.

The government's first message, far from positive, came on Thursday when Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Vincent Jeanbrun told members of parliament that MaPrimeRénov' would "probably continue in 2026" with restricted criteria, similar to those currently in place, meaning aid refocused "on very low-income and low-income households." This would preclude the reopening of aid for middle- and upper-income households.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.