What has changed on January 1st, 2025

When it comes to regulations in the real estate sector, being attentive is anything but a luxury. This year is no exception... The agenda includes reforms but also renewal, aiming to break away from a rather gloomy context. However, the plans outlined in the 2025 Finance Bill were jeopardized at the end of 2024 by the vote of no confidence on December 4, 2024 that was set to topple the government of Michel Barnier.

The uncertainties that followed were partially resolved at the beginning of 2025. However, clarifications are expected regarding the real estate market: from rental investment to primary residence acquisition, from energy renovation to housing assistance, from tax changes to the forms to be filled out for any renovation project.

2025, a greener year? It seems so, especially in the field of ecological transition. In building decarbonization, there are few changes in 2025: key points to note.

⚫️ Energy: planned changes

· The absence of a Finance Law, the halt of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, and the breakdown of a major gas liquefaction plant have generated new factors of uncertainty in energy price developments.
 
 

· Energy performance of buildings: new adjustments to the RE 2020:
A decree amending the energy and environmental performance requirements under the new building environmental regulation (tertiary housing) called RE 2020 was published on December 31, for implementation on January 1, 2025. This follows a feedback from the construction sector after two years of regulation application.

· CEE: launch of the Pacte Entreprises program by Ademe
A decree published on December 31, 2024, in the Official Journal, creates the Pacte Entreprises program, eligible for energy savings certificates (CEE). Led by the Agency for Ecological Transition (Ademe), it targets private companies with tertiary activity buildings, mainly TPE-SMEs, whether subject to the "eco tertiary energy" system or not.
 
 

🌡️ Climate objectives

 Adopted in 2021, the Climate and Resilience Law aims to combat climate change. To this end, it advocates and imposes the goals of Net Zero artificialization and energy renovation. Housing, food, transportation, consumption: every socio-economic aspect is subject to targeted measures, including within companies.

Main objective: to reduce France's greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

In early February 2024, the European Commission proposed an intermediate target: -90% by 2040. However, this target is not yet definitively adopted.

The European climate regulation also establishes the creation of an advisory scientific council. Comprising 15 experts, it identifies the actions to be taken to achieve the EU's climate objectives. It assesses the conformity of European legislative initiatives with the ambitions set out in the Green Deal and the Paris Agreement.

According to the European People's Party, the European economy will go through the abolition of renewable energy targets and the suspension of supply chain reporting rules.

💶 Rental investment: DPE G-rated housing prohibited from renting

The measure was announced as part of the 2022 Climate and Resilience Law.

Its goal? To accelerate energy transition by offering a greener, less energy-intensive rental housing stock.

Since January 1, 2025, the game is set: housing considered as "energy sieves" due to their very poor rating are finally prohibited from renting.

Concretely, a landlord can no longer offer a G-rated DPE housing for rent in mainland France. In the overseas territories, this measure will only take effect on January 1, 2028.

Note: a G-rated housing under lease remains valid until expiration. However, without energy renovations, a new lease renewal will no longer be possible.

📓 Agenda:

• DPE carried out before July 1, 2021, become obsolete due to the new rules.
• January 1, 2025: Condominiums with more than 50 units must compulsorily conduct a collective DPE (energy performance diagnosis).
• 2025: Prohibition of renting housing with G-rated DPE.
• 2028: Prohibition of renting housing with F-rated DPE.
• From 2034: Prohibition of renting housing with E-rated DPE.

🚃 Mandatory energy audit for E-rated properties from 2025

Starting January 1, 2025, owners of properties classified as E on the Energy Performance Certificate (DPE) must conduct an energy audit before selling. This measure, introduced by the Climate and Resilience Law, aims to encourage energy renovations of homes in France. Discover the details of this obligation and its impact on the real estate market.

⚪ What is an energy audit?

The energy audit is a thorough analysis of a property's energy performance. Unlike the DPE, which is limited to an overall diagnosis, the audit provides a concrete work plan to improve the energy rating. 

⚪ Which properties are subject to the energy audit?

As of January 1, 2025, the energy audit is mandatory for all E-rated properties put up for sale, in addition to F and G-rated properties already subject to this obligation.

- Individual houses

- Single-ownership buildings. Condominiums are exempt from this obligation but are subject to other rules on energy renovation.

⚪ Why is this measure important?

The goal is to reduce these homes known as thermal sieves, as they are energy-intensive and harmful to the environment. By promoting energy renovation, this measure ensures:

§ A reduction in energy bills for occupants.

§ Better thermal comfort.

§ Contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

⚪ What does the energy audit contain?

The energy audit consists of 3 steps:

1. Current diagnosis: Energy performance of the property.

2. Work proposals:

§ Costed scenarios in several stages.

§ Solutions to achieve a D class or less energy-intensive rating.

3. Available financial aids:

§ MaPrimeRénov'

§ Energy savings certificates (CEE)

Finally, to learn online about your renovation aid opportunities, the simulator mesaidesreno.beta.gouv.fr helps to better understand the aid you may be eligible for.