MaPrimeRénov' is still struggling to get the French involved in the energy renovation of their homes

In 2024, the National Housing Agency (ANAH) had planned a budget of more than 5 billion euros for the energy renovation of French homes. But only 3,29 billion euros in aid has been paid.

This "under-consumption of MaPrimeRénov' credits of more than a billion euros", according to the Minister of Housing Valérie Létard, justified the reduction in credits allocated in the State's 2025 budget project.

Of the objective of "700.000 renovated homes, including 200.000 major renovations" announced by Anah for 2024, the result is ultimately only 340.800 renovated homes, including 91.374 major renovations.

The fault, according to Oriane Raulet, deputy director of expertise and public policies at Anah, lies in a "time of appropriation" of the reform of the system in 2024, which notably made the monitoring of large-scale renovation projects by a "My Renovation Support Officer (MAR)" agent mandatory.

"MaPrimeRénov' was made so complex at the start of 2024 that we fell to -75% of applications submitted in the first three months of the year compared to the previous year. Our customers were lost, our craftsmen too," says Olivier Salleron, president of the French Building Federation.

"The political confusion over the regulations that may change does not help," confirms Aïda Tazi, head of the building and real estate division of the Carbone 4 firm, which recommends "simplifying, supporting and clarifying the process" of supporting renovation.

"Fed up"

On the household side, there is criticism of "the administrative burden and complexity" of MaPrimeRénov' aid applications, reports Clarisse Berger, energy and housing research officer at UFC-Que Choisir.

On social networks, Internet users share their troubles – problems connecting to the site, blocked files, long delays in paying aid – and share tips and advice on groups where discussions are often punctuated by "I'm fed up!"

MaPrimeRénov' is the target of numerous fraud attempts, which requires Anah to carefully study each file and block those which raise the slightest doubt.

"The processing time for a file, excluding fraud schemes and reporting, is five weeks," indicated the general director of Anah, Valérie Mancret-Taylor, in the fall.

This risk of scam puts off some consumers, especially since major renovation work costs tens of thousands of euros.

In 2024, the average cost of the work on the files studied by Anah was 55.000 euros, of which almost 20.000 euros remained to be paid by the household after payment of aid.

Anah subsidies depend on the household's income level and can cover up to 90% of the cost of the work for those on the lowest incomes, but "the remaining cost is still a bit too high," Clarisse Berger points out.

And the household must advance, at least in part, the cost of the work, because MaPrimeRénov' is only paid after presentation of the invoices.

"The questions of financing, pre-financing and remaining costs are pressing and recurring in accelerating the movement towards mass renovations," concedes Oriane Raulet.

Lack of craftsmen?

For her, it is also necessary for "the entire ecosystem to mobilize", from communities to craftsmen, including banks, to get housing renovations off the ground.

Paradoxically, the number of companies holding the "recognized guarantor of the environment" (RGE) label, mandatory to qualify for MaPrimeRénov' aid, has stagnated at around 60.000, and has even fallen between 2022 and today, according to the Environment and Energy Management Agency (Ademe).

"We have no shortage of craftsmen! 600.000 construction workers can do RGE work," insists Olivier Salleron, who justifies the drop in the number of certified companies by "fed up with the instability of MaPrimeRénov'".

By 2025, Anah plans to support 100.000 major housing renovations and 250.000 smaller ones, with a budget of 3,4 billion euros for MaPrimeRénov'.

"A very large number of applications were submitted at the end of last year," assures Oriane Raulet, optimistic for 2025 and for whom it is "normal" that households take time to take advantage of this aid.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.