What is the timeline for landlords' energy-efficiency renovations?

In a recent bill, Republican Representative Thibault Bazin proposes postponing the ban on renting energy-inefficient homes from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2030.

Under the Climate and Resilience Act of August 22, 2021, landlords in metropolitan France are required to follow a strict 2025–2034 timeline for retrofitting their properties classified as energy-inefficient—specifically, those rated G, F, and E on the Energy Performance Certificate (DPE). A specific timeline is provided for overseas territories. 
 

Already, as of August 25, 2022, they can no longer raise rents for F- or G-rated housing. In addition, as of January 1, 2023, there is a ban on renting out the worst “energy-inefficient” properties—that is, a subset of G-rated homes known as “G+” properties, which consume more than 450 kWh per square meter per year.
 

The next deadline is January 1, 2025. As of that date, landlords will no longer be able to rent out any housing units rated G. The rule will apply to Class F starting January 1, 2028. Finally, Class E will be affected starting January 1, 2034. This means that landlords will then no longer be able to rent out housing rated G, F, or E. 
 

Please note that these prohibitions apply only to new leases and not to existing leases.
 

Real estate professionals have been urgently calling for months for this timeline to be relaxed, particularly due to financial, technical, and—above all—practical constraints. Shortages of materials and labor are delaying the start of construction projects throughout France. Furthermore, nearly 40% of the energy-inefficient units in the rental housing stock are reportedly located in buildings governed by condominium associations, where renovation projects are subject to very lengthy voting procedures.
 

Thibault Bazin, a member of the Republicans party, addressed the issue in a bill introduced on October 24 that proposes emergency measures to address the housing crisis. He proposes postponing the ban on renting energy-inefficient homes from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2030. This postponement, he argues, “is all the more necessary given that the targets for the number of ‘comprehensive renovations’ set out in the 2024 budget bill will not allow for the timely renovation of all energy-inefficient homes. Based on the budget projections for 2024, it will take several years just to renovate homes classified as ‘G’.”
 

A second provision in the bill concerns the multi-year renovation plan (PPT) that condominium associations may adopt. It stipulates that the adoption of a PPT that promotes energy savings of sufficient performance will result in the suspension of the classification of an individual unit in the building as energy-inefficient for the duration of the PPT, which is ten years. In other words, the ban on renting out the unit would be suspended during that period.
 

"Co-owners would therefore be encouraged to launch a large-scale renovation plan for their building. This measure would help foster a sense of community within the buildings and facilitate the approval of collective renovation projects."
 

During his October 31 hearing before the Senate Finance Committee on the 2024 budget bill, Patrice Vergriete, the Minister Delegate for Housing, suggested that a shift in policy was possible while remaining firm on the need to honor commitments in this area.