Is any financial aid available to pay for installing a septic tank for our French property?

Reader Question: We are looking to move out of Bordeaux to a rural property in south-west France, but it would require the installation of a septic tank. Are there aids for this?

There are some financial aids available to help install septic tanks, as these are mandatory in properties that are not connected to the mains sewage system. 

Firstly, most work related to installation of a septic tank including the installation of, and earthworks to place, a septic tank benefit from a lower VAT rate of 10% (as opposed to the standard 20% in France). 

In addition, a interest-free eco loan (éco-prêt à taux zéro) of up to €10,000 is available for the installation of fosses septique (septic tanks) in main properties built prior to January 1990, provided the tank in question does not consume energy. 

This does not require the company or person installing the tank to be RGE-certified (as other aids often do) but the project must be approved by the service public d'assainissement non collectif (Spanc), responsible for installations in your commune. 

The loan itself comes from a bank. Most major banks in France offer an interest-free loan for the installation of a septic tank. 

The forms you need to apply for a loan can be found here, and the company you choose to help you with the project may be able to help you apply. You will need a devis (quote) from them to show the Spanc. 

Full information on how to apply for the loan can be found on the government website here. 

Read more: What is cost of septic tank diagnostic when selling a French second home?

In some cases, you can also apply for a loan to install a system from your pension service (if you have a French pension) or from the Caisse d’Allocation Familiale (Caf) if you receive benefits from them. 

The latter offers a loan with an interest rate of 1% to cover certain works – contact your local centre to find out more. 

Some grants available

Alongside these loans, there are grants that can partially cover installation costs. 

The main source of funding comes from the Agence nationale pour l’amélioration de l’habitat (ANAH), an official agency for property improvements in France. 

These apply to households with modest to low incomes. 

The lowest-income households can receive a grant covering up to 50% of the cost of the works (to a maximum of €15,000), with modest income households receiving up to 35%, up to a maximum of €11,000. Applications are made online at monprojet.anah.gouv.fr.

You must be the homeowner, the property be your main residence, and it be at least fifteen years old – the work must also be carried out by an RGE-approved worker. 

The decision of what projects are funded by the ANAH are made at the local level, so it is best to reach out to your agency to check availability. 

It has been noted online however that septic tank projects are not a top priority for the agency, so you are not guaranteed to be covered even if your project meets the criteria. 

Read more: Do I need to remove a disused septic tank in France after connecting to the mains?

Otherwise, there may be local grants that partially cover costs.

There are six Agences d’Eau covering France – they sometimes offer funding for key water-based renovations, including septic tank installations. 

Reach out to your local agency to see what aids are available when you begin your project. 

Any tank installation or renovation requires frequent contact with your local SPANC – at the start of the project, ask them if any local aids are in place. 

Alternatively, you can contact your mairie to see if any other schemes are available.