how the government’s trial and error caused the number of construction sites to fall

Since the start of the year, the rules for obtaining MaPrimeRénov’ have already been modified twice by the government. An instability which does not encourage households to embark on renovation work and puts a brake on construction sites.

Communication operation for the renovation. The State launched its “France Rénov tour” on Friday April 19 in Chartres to promote housing renovation assistance schemes. “The objective is to encourage the French to carry out their renovation work, by showing them that through these steps, we are going to them to explain the materials, the procedures, the steps to renovate their home, and that Today, renovating your home is simpler”declared the Minister of Housing, Guillaume Kasbarian.

At the same time, the National Housing Agency (Anah), which is behind the “France Rénov’ tour”, published its figures for the first quarter of 2024 on the same day. And the atmosphere is not at celebration since less than 80,000 homes were renovated, a drop of 43% compared to the first quarter of last year (PDF link). A figure very far from the government projections which announced, in October, the objective of 200,000 thermal renovations this year. To achieve this, the Ministries of Ecological Transition, Energy Transition and Housing relied on a modification, which became official on January 1, of the rules for obtaining MaPrimeRénov’, the main State aid for the energy renovation of buildings. housing.

Stricter conditions since January

On that date, the MaPrimeRénov’ system, launched in 2020 and from which 1.5 million French people have already benefited, focused on large-scale renovations, mainly for thermal strainers (housing classified F and G). To benefit from it, you had to gain at least two energy classes on the energy performance diagnosis, and carry out at least two insulation actions and one ventilation. Aid for the installation of air-water or geothermal heat pumps, or connection to an urban heat network, increased from 1,000 to 2,000 euros for low-income and intermediate households.

Anah, which pilots this system, offered owners of energy sieves wishing to carry out a large-scale renovation involving several projects (insulating walls, changing windows and heating methods, for example) a rate of support of up to “90% for households with very modest incomes”, with a ceiling of 70,000 euros compared to 35,000 euros previously. On paper, these modifications had a dual objective, explained to France 2 Audrey Zermati, strategy director at Effy, a company specializing in energy renovation.

“Encourage people to do more ambitious work, with overall renovation, and encourage people to change their heating system, particularly if they have a fossil fuel heating system, therefore gas or oil.”

Audrey Zermati, strategy director at Effy

at France 2

These households beginning these major renovation works had to “systematically [être] accompanied by an independent trusted third party approved by the State”. But these decisions did not have the desired effect and the number of construction sites fell.

Flashback to February

This new version therefore excluded the so-called “mono-gesture” renovations of MaPrimeRénov’. “These consist of replacing or renovating a single station, whether it is the heating system, ventilation, wall insulation…”explains to franceinfo Carine Sebi, professor of economics at Grenoble Ecole de Management. “Under pressure from Anah artisans and figures, we went back”she adds.

In mid-February, a meeting between Christophe Béchu, Minister of Ecological Transition, Guillaume Kasbarian, Minister of Housing, Olivier Salleron, president of the French Building Federation (FFB), and Jean-Christophe Repon, head of the Confederation of crafts and small construction businesses (Capeb), took place. They “unanimously alerted to an energy renovation process now involving too much administrative burden”reported the Ministry of Ecological Transition.

To remedy this, three developments were targeted: limit “at the highest subsidies” THE “obligations to use an approved guide”, “simplify the label ‘recognized guarantor of the environment’ (which professionals must obtain to work on projects financed by MaPrimeRénov’)especially for small and medium-sized businesses”And “lift financing restrictions regarding simple and effective renovation actions”.

“A comprehensive renovation is better than a single action, but a single action is better than no renovation at all.”

Christophe Béchu, Minister of Ecological Transition

at a press conference, March 8

The first axis aims to “streamline files”. The second should allow more companies to get involved in renovation work and the third should restart ‘mono-gesture’ work.

Frightening rule changes

In the wake of these changes, the government announced, at the beginning of March, to postpone until January 1, 2025 the refocusing of MaPrimeRénov’ towards major renovations. If Carine Sebi welcomes the fact that the aid remains profitable for the most precarious households, she is concerned about these “public policies in small steps”. “This risks compromising the achievement of carbon neutrality of the real estate stock by 2050. It is therefore crucial that the system continues to encourage and actively support the most precarious households in their deep renovations, while not excluding the wealthiest households, who play an essential role in the dynamics of renovation actions”explains the economics professor.

Furthermore, these trials and errors confuse the message sent. “The lack of stability is a problem for both households and craftsmen. If a household hires work from a craftsman, and the latter tells them a few months later that the rules have changed and that they is no longer eligible for the bonus, this creates frustration, and, at worst, an obstacle to taking action”she illustrates.

“This lack of continuity and this instability sends frightening signals, while it is not necessarily an attractive investment for households.”

Carine Sebi, professor of economics at Grenoble Ecole de Management

at franceinfo

The move announced by the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, does not necessarily send a good signal either. Initially allocated nearly 2.5 billion euros and expected to even rise to 4 billion euros in 2024, the budget allocated to MaPrimeRénov’ has been drastically reduced. “We had announced an additional envelope of 1.6 billion from 2023 to 2024” And “there will always be an increase of 600 million, but we recover 1 billion”, noted the minister. A blow that includes the 10 billion euros in savings wanted by the government, in order to respect its budgetary commitment and justified by less vigorous growth expected in 2024.