Subsidy (Prime “Habiter mieux”)

Updated: 07.02.2019

Author: Helena Vidalic

The French government has introduced a national programme to support households with low income in the thermal renovation of their buildings in order to decrease energy losses called “habiter mieux”. The National Agency for Housing (ANAH - Agence Nationale pour l´Habitat) is in charge of the implementation of the support programme. This subsidy is given in form of a premium, which can only be granted in addition to a subsidy of the National Agency for Housing, provided the renovation works improve the energetic performance of the housing unit by at least 25% for homeowners and at least 35% for landlords and associations of co-owners (compared to the conventional energy consumption) (Annex, Décret n° 2015-1911). Moreover, the district where the housing unit is located shall be signatory of a local commitment agreement against fuel poverty (Annex, Décret n° 2015-1911). 

Eligible technologies

According to the National Agency for Housing, all renewable energy plants for the production of heat are eligible, provided following conditions are met (Annex, Décret n° 2015-1911):
  • The applicant shall be assisted by a professional operator implementing the renovation works. Under certain conditions, the assistance of an operator for simple renovation works is not always necessary. 
  • The applicant shall prove that the renovation works improve the energetic performance of the housing unit by at least 25% for homeowners and at least 35% for landlords and associations of co-owners (compared to the conventional energy consumption).

Aerothermal energy

Eligible under certain conditions defined in art. 22 of the Arrêté du 3 mai 2007 regarding the coefficient of performance and the heat source temperature.

Hydrothermal energy

Eligible under certain conditions defined in art. 22 of the Arrêté du 3 mai 2007 regarding the coefficient of performance and the heat source temperature.

Biogas

Eligible

Biomass

Wood-fuelled burners, heat-accumulation stoves, pellet stoves and wood-burning stoves are eligible under certain conditions regarding the capacity and output of the plant (Art. 41-44, Arrêté du 3 mai 2007)

Geothermal energy

Eligible under certain conditions defined in art. 22 of the Arrêté du 3 mai 2007 regarding the coefficient of performance and the heat source temperature.

Solar thermal energy

Eligible

Amount

For homeowners: The amount of the premium is set at 10% of the eligible renovation works (VAT excluded). For homeowners, the amount of the premium depend on the income of the household and cannot exceed:
  • € 1,600 for households with low income
  • € 2,000 for households with very low income
Please refer to the section on Adressees for a detailed definition of the “low income” and “very low income” categories. Moreover, an advance of maximum 70% of the amount of the subsidy can be granted at the beginning of the renovation work (Annex, Décret n° 2015-1911).
For landlords and associations of co-owners: The subsidy amounts to € 1,500 per housing (Annex, Décret n° 2015-1911). For associations of co-owners, an advance of maximum 40% of the amount of the subsidy can be granted at the beginning of the renovation work. However, this advance cannot exceed € 300,000 (Annex, Décret n° 2015-1911).

Addressees

Owners of housing units with low to very low income are entitled to the support programme. The income limits are defined according to the number of persons (1 to 5 members) in the household and according to whether the housing unit is located in the Île de France region or elsewhere.

  • Households with very low income and living in the Ile de France region: € 19,875 to € 46,798 (+ € 5,882 per additional person)
  • Households with very low income and living in other regions: € 14,360 to € 33,774(+ € 4,257 per additional person)
  • Households with low income and living in the Ile de France region: € 24,194 to € 56,970 (+ € 7,162 per additional person)
  • Households with low income and living in other regions: € 18,409 to € 43,297 (+ € 5,454 per additional person)

      Procedure

      Process flow

      The application for the support programme “habiter mieux” shall be submitted to the National Agency for Housing together with the application for a subvention of the National Agency for Housing. 

      • Contact a professional operator: The applicant shall be assisted in the preparation of the application by a professional operator. The costs of the assistance fees can be borne either by the local authorities or by a subvention, depending on the location of the housing unit. (Annex I, Décret n° 2015-1911). 
      • Submit the application file: In order to benefit from the premium “habiter mieux”, the applicant shall submit following documents in addition to the regular application file to the attention of the National Agency for Housing (Annex, Décret n° 2015-1911):
        • Document providing an energy assessment before and after the renovation works
        • Copy of the summary sheet provided by the professional operator regarding the housing, the household and the planned renovation works
        • If requested, a copy of the quotation and of the signed agreement describing the delivery of the professional operator.

      The list of the required application documents for regular applications is to be found on the website of the National Agency for Housing: www.anah.fr/les-aides/conditions-generales.html 

      Competent authority

      The National Agency for Housing (ANAH - Agence Nationale pour l´Habitat) is in charge of the implementation of the support programme on behalf of the French government (Annex, Décret n° 2015-1911).

      Distribution of costs

      State

      For the year 2016, the national programme to support low income households in the thermal renovation of their buildings was credited additional € 40 million by the ministry of Energy. The total amount of the fund thus reached € 140 million in 2016.  In 2017 the programme spent € 83.5 million. 

      France

      Further information

      • Agence Nationale pour l´Habitat (ANAH) - National Agency for Housing
      • ANAH website

      Basic information on legal sources