Energy renovation assistance: the MaPrimeRénov system in the spotlight

A scheme that's a victim of its own success. While the number of homes renovated with subsidies from the MaPrimeRénov energy renovation aid scheme tripled in the first quarter of 2025, the budget allocated by the State for 2025 was reduced to align with the amounts consumed in 2024. As a result, the government has been caught off guard. Adjustments to the scheme are therefore expected in the coming weeks. A complete suspension of aid is also on the table.

"Given the rise in housing renovation, which is not surprising, it was certain that there would be a problem," notes Manuel Domergue, director of studies at the Fondation pour le logement (formerly the Abbé-Pierre Foundation).

The National Housing Agency (ANAH) announced last week that more than 100,000 renovation projects had been initiated since the beginning of 2025, against a government-set target of 350,000 energy renovations. A budget of €3.6 billion had been allocated to ANAH for the entire program. However, the government does not plan to supplement it or process applications beyond the set target.

But the problem is now real: seven local authorities in the Grand Est region have written to the ministry to warn that their MaPrimeRénov budget has been exhausted. The Ardèche department is facing the same funding shortage, as is the Lyon metropolitan area and many other territories responsible for distributing aid to low- and very low-income households for the comprehensive renovation of their homes.

Due to this lack of public funding, MaPrimeRénov could be suspended starting in July and at least until the end of the year, according to an article in Le Parisien published Tuesday. A member of the Anah board of directors and another close source confirmed that closing the office was a possibility under consideration. "Nothing has been decided," contradicted the Ministry of Housing.

This would mean, if necessary, that no more grant applications could be submitted from July. "An absolute catastrophe," according to Jacques Baudrier, PCF deputy mayor of Paris in charge of housing. "The environmental transition in construction requires public money, otherwise it won't happen," warns Manuel Domergue.

On the government side, the Anah (National Agency for the Prevention of Pollution) "does not comment on the rumors," and the government indicates that it is preparing "announcements in June to better manage the influx of applications and detect fraudsters early." The "strong momentum in the major renovation is good news," and "the processing and payment of applications are continuing normally," the government insists, without mentioning the lack of public funds. It also specifies that "arbitrations for 2026" will have to be announced in July.

Energy renovation companies are sounding the alarm: "If MaPrimeRénov is halted, it will be brutal," fears Jean-Christophe Repon, president of the building trades union, Capeb.

"Behind this possible freeze on aid, thousands of customers are being left behind and thousands of jobs in the sector could be permanently threatened," reacts Philippe Notargiacomo, president of the renovation company HomeServe Energies Services. For Suzanne Brolly, vice-president of the Strasbourg Eurometropolis, "it's an entire balance that is collapsing, a balance that was already very fragile."

In addition, the government has already begun seeking financial solutions to increase MaPrimeRénov without further increasing the public deficit. It plans to amend the rules governing energy savings certificates (CEE) to encourage companies to finance major renovations.

However, according to Damien Demailly, deputy director of the climate economics research institute I4CE , there is a "time lag" of several months between the award of a CEE and the payment of funds by the company. The effects of the potential new CEE rules would therefore be seen "rather in 2026" .