Will the hunt for thermal filters really shake up the real estate market?
A measure that is ecological and economical. Since last Sunday, the worst thermal filters have been banned for rent in mainland France. The size concerns dwellings that are classified G+ under an energy performance diagnosis (DPE), that is, those that consume more than 450 kilowatt hours per square meter per year. By 2025 all G housing on mainland France will follow, then F in 2028 and E in 2034.
This rule applies to new rental contracts signed starting in 2023. Existing tenants will not renovate their accommodation unless the landlord decides to anticipate this in the future. homework. “But the obligation to complete the work in stages will apply to the current lease,” explains Louis du Merle, legal director of the National Housing Information Agency (Anil). 20 minutes analyze the consequences of these actions in the real estate market.
Will the owners of all G+ homes do energy renovations this year?
No, first of all because some anticipate the new rules. Then, because the law provides derogation, especially if the accommodation is subject to architectural or heritage restrictions and the energy renovation work does not match those characteristics. Another case: if the site involves working common areas and co-ownership has been denied.
Then, all homeowners of this type do not necessarily have the means to carry out the work. Replacing windows or boilers, insulating walls… can quickly increase bills. “Certain assistance is available to them, such as MaPrimeRénov’, interest-free green loans, assistance from the community for energy renovations, etc.,” underlines Louis du Merle. In addition, “building companies are overwhelmed and the price of materials has increased significantly”, notes Guillaume Martinaud, president of the Orpi network. After all, according to Louis du Merle, “this legislative provision sends a strong signal to all landlords of the need to do this work. And it’s encouraging tenants to be more aware of residential energy performance. »
Will there be significantly fewer apartments to rent this year?
In a study conducted last July, the National Observatory for Energy Renovation (ONRE), estimated “that there will be 140,000 highly energy-intensive homes (consumption greater than 450kWh/m²) in private rental stock, 50,000 in social housing rental stock and 320,000 in owner-occupied housing. For now, the figures show a limited impact on the rental market, according to Manuel Domergue, director of studies at the Abbé-Pierre Foundation: “This should concern 35,000 housing units this year, which is a quarter of the stock, as tenants change apartment on average every 4 years. However, some owners will withdraw their property from the market. “They don’t always anticipate action or don’t have the means to do the job this year. They will switch to short-term tourist rentals or sell their properties,” predicts Guillaume Martinaud, president of the Orpi network. Others, less frequently, will continue to rent their property, without going through a real estate agent, even if it means putting themselves outside the law, Manuel Domergue anticipates: “They will speculate on the fact that the tenants are either not aware of these leases or are unwilling to file appeal by impounding the departmental commission for rental dispute resolution or a judge, because they do not intend to stay long at the accommodation. »
Will there be more G+ type apartments for sale?
Yes and have. In their 2022 report, French notaries recorded a significant increase in the sales volume of category G housing. This represents 7% of transactions made in the third quarter of 2022 compared to 3% a year earlier. An observation that Guillaume Martinaud also makes: “Since mid-2022, we have more accommodations of this type in our portfolio. And because they cost 10 to 15% less than other properties in the same area, they’re attractive to first-time buyers. Which trend will continue?
