For a more accurate and useful interpretation of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in 2026

For too long, the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) methodology unfairly penalized homes heated with electricity by applying an excessively high conversion coefficient that no longer reflects the reality of France's electricity mix, which is among the most decarbonized in Europe. Reducing the coefficient from 2,3 to 1,9, in line with European standards, will correct this historical distortion.

In practical terms, this reform will automatically reclassify millions of homes, improving the energy rating of many properties without any renovation work having been carried out. This is not insignificant: approximately 850.000 homes currently rated F or G will no longer be considered energy inefficient, and millions more will gain an additional rating.

This adjustment comes at a pivotal moment in our housing market. Since 2025, the most energy-inefficient properties, rated G, have been progressively banned from rental. Without a reform like this, hundreds of thousands of landlords would have been forced to remove their properties from the rental market or face increased pressure to undertake costly renovations. Thanks to this reform, the rental market is getting a much-needed boost, and properties that were previously penalized can now continue to be offered for rent.

But beyond the regulatory impact, this new Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) should be seen as an opportunity for energy efficiency. It replaces a label sometimes perceived as arbitrary with a tool offering a more accurate assessment of the building stock. This should help restore trust between owners, buyers, and real estate professionals, who will now be able to rely on a fairer framework to decide between renovation, keeping the property on the market, or pursuing a long-term investment strategy.

This reform is an essential step towards genuine energy transparency and a more coherent energy transition. However, it also calls for continued efforts in renovation: a better energy rating on paper is no substitute for effective insulation or environmentally sound installations. For both public and private stakeholders, the challenge now is to support homeowners in implementing concrete improvements, while leveraging the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) as an educational tool, not just a regulatory one.

The 2026 Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) will not lower bills overnight, nor will it single-handedly solve the housing crisis or energy poverty. But it does level the playing field, restore value to properties that have been unfairly devalued, and finally clarify an energy assessment that must remain central to investment, renovation, and citizen engagement decisions.

Ultimately, the 2026 Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reform should be neither overestimated nor underestimated. It doesn't solve all the problems facing French housing, but it corrects a major inconsistency that unnecessarily weakened millions of homeowners and muddied the message of the energy transition. A more accurate assessment is a more credible assessment, and therefore a more effective one.

At a time when energy renovation must remain a national priority, it is essential to reconcile environmental requirements with economic realities. The 2026 Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a step in this direction. It is up to us—real estate professionals, public stakeholders, and property owners—to make it a tool for informed decision-making rather than a mere regulatory burden. Only then will the energy transition in housing be not only ambitious, but also sustainable and accepted.

Tribune by Eric Houdet, Founder of Homapi (Homapi).