Many French property energy efficiency ratings now out of date: How to check yours
The change will affect you if you plan to sell or rent a property
If you wish to sell or let your property, you must have a valid DPE certificate
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Many energy performance certificates in France (diagnostics de performance énergétique, DPE) are now out of date, meaning that if you wish to sell or let your property, you need to carry out a new DPE.
Since January 1, 2025, DPEs for the following dates are no longer valid if carried out between January 1, 2018 and July 31, 2021.
If you wish to sell or let your property, you (as the owner) will need to arrange for a new DPE to be undertaken.
What is a DPE?
The diagnostics de performance énergétique (DPE, energy performance diagnostic) was introduced in 2006. It estimates the theoretical energy consumption of a property, and is a test carried out by a government-certified diagnostician.
Read more: Explainer: DPE survey and new energy audit for properties in France
Ratings vary from A for the best-performing homes to G for the worst.
It is compulsory to have a DPE when selling or letting a property. For sales, the DPE rating must be displayed clearly on the sales listing (except in some circumstances).
Read more: French property sales: Why do some listings not have energy ratings?
Read also: Is DPE energy certificate needed for property used for Airbnb rentals?
New audits can be undertaken by firms with the audit énergétique en maison individuelle qualification, those with RGE offre globale certification, and certified diagnostiqueurs.
You can find an auditor at either of these two government websites:
The audit is likely to cost anywhere from €400 to €1,000 or more, depending on the property.
Why are these DPEs no longer valid?
Normally, a DPE rating is valid for 10 years. However, since July 2021, there have been major changes to the method used to calculate the rating.
Before this date, energy bills from the last three years were used to help calculate the rating. Since this date, however, diagnosticians have been required to use the new ‘Calcul de la Consommation Conventionnelle des Logements’ (3CL) method.
The 3CL method is considered to be more reliable as it is based on the insulation quality of the property. It also uses standardised, objective criteria.
However, this change in method does mean that DPEs carried out before its introduction will no longer be valid. The government is gradually working to ensure that all homes that need one have a reliable DPE rating, carried out using the 3CL method.
This means that from this year (2025), DPEs carried out between January 1, 2018 and July 31, 2021 will no longer be valid.
Will the new DPE be the same as my old one?
Not necessarily. In some cases, the new DPE rating may differ considerably from the previous one.
This is because the new calculation method takes into account technical parameters that were not previously considered as part of the rating.
Unfortunately for sellers, a poor DPE rating can cause the price of a property to fall considerably, and a very low score can exclude the property from the rental market altogether.
The current timetable - set out in the loi climat et résilience (Climate and Resilience Act) is:
G-rated properties (the most energy-wasting) are banned from being rented from January 1, 2025.
F and E-rated homes will be excluded from the rental market in 2028 and 2034 respectively.
Read more: Timetable for new energy-linked restrictions for homes in France
This process is expected to continue after 2034, with the rental restrictions gradually becoming more stringent.
