The scheme of financial assistance for home energy conservation in France has changed this year and it will do so again next year.

Until the end of 2019, the main form of financial assistance for home energy conservation was a tax credit called the Crédit d’Impôt de la Transition Énergétique (CITE).

The tax credit was a percentage of eligible works up to a maximum level of expenditure and available without means-testing.

Nevertheless, until the end of this year you can still apply for CITE. This year a means-test applies, which is generous, although beyond a maximum income threshold, applicants are only eligible for insulation works. The percentage level of assistance has also been replaced by a fixed sum for each type of work.

You read more at Guide to Financial Assistance for Home Energy Conservation.

Ma PrimeRénov

Since January 2020, the tax credit is being phased out to be replaced by a grant, called ‘Ma PrimeRénov’.

In practical terms, this means that the money will now be provided when the works have been completed, not, as previously, at the end of the tax year, following submission of your tax return.

The most significant changes in the new scheme are that this year assistance is now a function of:

• The income of the household;
• The energy savings resulting from the work and/or level of expenditure.

Nevertheless, from 2021 Ma PrimeRénov will be open to all households and to landlords and syndics of co-ownership flats.

The preliminary guidance issues indicates that although all households will be eligible, the level of support will be on a sliding scale related to income and energy performance. We will publish more details next month.

Building estimates dating from 1st Oct 2020 will be accepted for this grant assistance in 2021.

Below we set out the rules that apply to Ma PrimeRénov for the remainder of this year.

Means Test

The new grant conditions make a distinction between households with a 'modest' income and those with a 'very modest' income, with more generous grants available to those on the lowest incomes.

The maximum income thresholds are higher in the Ile-de-France than the remainder of the country, as is shown below.

The reference year for the income test is 2019 income (revenu fiscal de référence) as advised on your 2020 tax notice. The total income for the whole household is assessed.

Grant Levels

The level of the grant is a function of your income and the nature of the works.

There is a cap on the level of the grant for each type of work and the total grant is capped at a maximum of €20,000.

As previously, the grant is only available if the property is your principal home. The work must also be carried out by an accredited builder (Reconnue Garante de l’Environnement - RGE) and to a minimum level of energy performance.

The grant is paid on completion of the works, although interim payments are sometimes possible.

The list of eligible works does change each year, as does the level of assistance. The grant available for double glazing has been reduced drastically over the past couple of years, and since July so has the amount for external insulation, both of which are substantially below the cost of such works.

A summary of the assistance available for most type of work is shown below. The grant levels are for houses; different rates apply for apartments. There are also maximum cost levels that apply for each type of work, not given here.

Other Assistance

As can be seen from the table, the grant does not fund the whole of the works. Nevertheless, it is available with other forms of assistance, such as Certificat Économies d’Énergie (CEE) and an interest free loan called the Eco-prêt à taux zéro. 

Under the CEE scheme it is possible to get assistance for boiler replacement, albeit on a means-tested basis. The assistance is a maximum of €4,000. Our guide above says more.

UPDATE: The CEE programme is being gradually abolished from 1st July 2021.

Application Process

You can make an application on-line at MaPrimeRénov. (The site is frequently down).

However, we strongly recommend you discuss your plans with one of the free government energy advisors at 'FAIRE' (Faciliter, Accompagner et Informer pour la Rénovation Énergétique).You should treat with caution advice you may receive from builders or other energy advisors.

You can find an accredited builder from the FAIRE website at Trouver un Professionel.