Is the €1 home insulation offer still available in France?

Reader questions: There are numerous adverts for €1 insulation. Is the government still financing this or are these scams?

Loft insulation costing just €1 was an offer that was available from firms that had signed a charter with the Ecology Ministry.

It was abolished in 2021 after controversies over aggressive telemarketing and poorly executed work.

You are right to be cautious as the energy renovation industry is fertile ground for scammers.

Energy renovation companies are forbidden from cold-calling potential customers, so if you are contacted over the phone, you should not agree to undertake work of any kind.

Guidance from the Finance Ministry says: “Be particularly wary of businesses claiming to have a mandate from a public organisation, as public services will never solicit you, whether online, over the phone, or at your home.”

In March, the Ain department warned residents that cold-callers had been pretending to be calling from the council.

Some residents “received a voice message or email encouraging them to sign up to insulate their attic for €1”, it said, adding that it had reported the scam.

You can report a scam at internet-signalement.gouv.fr or by calling 0 805 805 817.

If you have a doubt as to whether an offer is genuine, or simply want free, impartial advice, you should contact a France Rénov service.

Find a local information centre at france-renov.gouv.fr/services-france-renov or call a France Rénov adviser at 0808 800 700.

You can also contact an Adil housing information service (https://www.anil.org/lanil-et-les-adil/votre-adil/).

Help towards insulation is available via schemes such as MaPrimeRénov’ and the éco-prêt à taux zéro (interest-free loan).

You can estimate the amount you could receive at france-renov.gouv.fr/aides/simulation.

Energy suppliers also offer schemes to help towards such work.

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