MaPrimeRénov': the government hears the Building sector and postpones the refocusing on major renovations until 2025

Since January 1, 2024, MaPrimeRénov', endowed in 2023 with some 2,5 billion euros, is more subject to conditions, with the aim of allocating it more to "large-scale", heavier and more efficient renovations. , and less to "mono-gestures" (changing the boiler or windows, insulating the roof alone, etc.).

The Ministries of Ecological Transition and Housing announced that they would postpone most of these changes until January 1, 2025, responding to a request from professional building organizations who accused them of having brought renovation projects to a halt.

“Better a global renovation than a single action but better a single action rather than no renovation at all,” justified the Minister of Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu.

The energy renovation of housing is crucial to achieving France's climate objectives, with the use of buildings accounting for nearly a fifth of the country's greenhouse gas emissions.

It has benefited from significant financial resources for several years, but will suffer from the budget cuts announced at the end of February by Bercy, the increase in the 2024 budget for MaPrimeRénov' having been slashed to 600 million compared to 1,6 billion initially announced.

“Unblock”

Individuals will thus be able to benefit from MaPrimeRénov' without necessarily having to change their heating method, as was supposed to be the case.

They will no longer be required to carry out an energy performance diagnosis (DPE) to qualify for aid, while owners of housing classified F or G, the least efficient labels, will ultimately not be required to engage in a major renovation.

“It goes the opposite of what should be done,” reacted Carine Sebi, professor at Grenoble Ecole de Management and specialist in energy renovation. “We know very well that this type of unprofitable investment must be massively supported by aid.”

“It is absolutely necessary to undertake profound renovations and stop the monogestors,” she said, because the former have a much better return on investment.

“It unblocks 90% of construction sites,” rejoiced, on the contrary, the president of the French Building Federation, Olivier Salleron, after meeting Christophe Béchu and the Minister for Housing Guillaume Kasbarian. “This will allow businesses to unwind, validate quotes, and get back to work,” he added.

The refocusing of aid had caused the number of files processed in January-February to plummet, four times fewer than in 2023 at the same period, according to Mr. Salleron.

“I emphasize the courage they had to rework and review their copy, that is not very common,” added his counterpart from the Confederation of Crafts and Small Building Companies, Jean-Christophe Repon.

The government also announced an acceleration in the deployment of “Renovation Supporters”, approved professionals whom candidates for a comprehensive renovation must consult.

The increase in load of this network should make it possible to increase the number of overall renovations, which make it possible to gain at least two energy labels.

After around 70.000 projects in 2023, the government aims to reach a figure in "the order of magnitude of a doubling" in 2024, the ministry says.

It is also committed to simplifying access, for companies, to the Recognized Guarantor of the Environment (RGE) system, essential for participating in projects eligible for public aid.

Companies using subcontractors will also have to have the label themselves, added the ministry, a measure aimed at combating fraud.

The decrees ratifying these reforms must be published next week, the ministry said.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.