Energy-efficiency renovation: the timetable for rental bans.

Energy-efficiency renovation measures are set to have a significant impact on the rental market in France, with the first rental ban scheduled to take effect in January 2023. However, the implementation of these regulations has sparked confusion and concern among landlords and real estate professionals alike.

The French government has consistently maintained its stance against enforcing mandatory renovation for homeowners. Instead, the obligations currently focus solely on landlords, those who engage in commercial rental transactions. The government aims to improve energy efficiency in rental properties, incentivizing landlords to undertake necessary renovations.

The rental ban will be based on a property’s energy rating, which is determined by the energy performance diagnosis (DPE). Initially, the scheme will target properties with the worst energy ratings, specifically those rated F or G on the DPE scale. This includes around 1.6 million private rental properties. The first threshold for rental bans will be set at 450 kilowatt-hours of final energy consumption per square meter per year, affecting the most energy-inefficient G+ labeled properties.

The timetable for rental bans is as follows:

• January 1, 2023: Rental ban on properties with G+ energy label.
• January 1, 2025: Rental ban on all properties with G energy label.
• January 1, 2028: Rental ban on all properties with F energy label.
• January 1, 2034: Rental ban on all properties with E energy label.

The looming January 2023 deadline has raised concerns among real estate professionals. Many believe the timeline is unrealistic and impractical for both property owners and renovation companies. The Federation Nationale de l’immobilier (Fnaim) president, Loïc Cantin, expresses worries about the feasibility of meeting these deadlines, suggesting that a more flexible timetable may be necessary.

One area of urgent concern is collective housing, which accounts for a significant portion of thermal flaws in the private rental sector, totaling 63%. To address this issue, French Minister of Housing, Olivier Klein, has pledged to facilitate the renovation process for lessors. Additionally, there are plans to increase the financial aid granted under the MaPrimeRénov’ Copropriété program to support collective housing renovations.

As the first deadline approaches, only a few thousand landlords have taken advantage of public subsidies to renovate their properties. Encouraging more property owners to participate in energy-efficiency renovations is crucial to achieving the government’s long-term climate goals and reducing energy consumption in the rental sector.

In conclusion, the French government’s energy-efficiency renovation plans will have a significant impact on the rental market. While the initial rental ban takes effect in January 2023, the complete implementation of the plan is expected to extend until 2034. The government’s focus on landlords aims to gradually improve energy efficiency in rental properties, starting with the least efficient ones. However, concerns about the practicality of the timetable and the need for more incentives for collective housing renovation have arisen, demanding careful monitoring and possible adjustments to achieve the desired environmental goals.

Source: https://www.capital.fr