Can we get help to repair cracks at French home?

Reader Question: We have noticed some cracks in our home in south-west France, and want to get help before it is too late. Is there any kind of government scheme to help with this, or do we have to go through the usual renovation programmes?

There is an aid scheme across France for state help to prevent drought-related cracking, and it has recently been expanded after the government relaxed eligibility rules.

The fonds de prévention argile (clay prevention fund) was launched in October 2025 as a trial scheme in 11 departments.

It offers grants to homeowners in high-risk zones for retrait-gonflement des argiles (RGA), the swelling and shrinking of clay-rich soils that occurs as they alternate between drought and heavy rain. 

RGA impacts potentially millions of homes across France, particularly in the south-west and centre.

This movement can crack walls, foundations, and pipework, sometimes causing serious structural damage.

The 11 departments trialling the scheme are: Allier, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Dordogne, Gers, Indre, Lot-et-Garonne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Nord, Puy-de-Dôme, Tarn and Tarn-et-Garonne.

It followed recommendations from France's public spending watchdog, the Cour des comptes, which in 2024 called for state grants to help households prevent drought-related cracking before damage became severe and costly to repair.

However, the scheme was criticised after only 19 homeowners saw payments processed in the first portion of 2026 through the programme. 

Note that this is the only official aid programme for RGA-damaged homes however: other schemes such as MaPrimeRénov’ are incompatible with the works required for cracks in homes.

How does scheme work and what has changed

Homeowners can check whether they qualify using the online eligibility calculator on the fonds de prévention argile website.

The scheme funds both a professional vulnerability diagnosis and preventive works, though applicants must meet income conditions.

These are set annually and based on criteria from the Agence nationale de l’habitat (national housing agency, ANAH), with three categories of income (very modest, modest, and intermediate) covered.

Applicants must be owners and the home must be their main residence – it does not cover damage to second homes.

Properties themselves must be at least 15 years old and detached, not connected to any other properties through adjoining walls. 

Depending on your household income, between 50% to 90% of costs will be covered.

Note there are maximum limits for costs, including €2,000 for a vulnerability assessment and €14,000 for preventative works. 

An order (arrêté) dated April 23, 2026, and in force since May 1, has broadened who can apply for the scheme.

The widened rules mean that:

• Eligible houses can now have up to three storeys (with basements and attics counted as storeys), up from two previously

• For the diagnostic phase, homeowners can now apply for a vulnerability assessment grant even if their house is already cracked

• For the works phase, the maximum crack width allowed has been increased to 5mm, up from 1mm

In theory, this allows more homes already suffering from the early stages of RGA to benefit from the aid.

New risk map now in force

Separately, a new zonage – or risk-exposure map – for RGA came into force on July 1, 2026. 

It updates the map used since 2020 to reflect a sharp rise in claims linked to soil movement in recent years.

Under the new map, areas classed as being at moderate or high risk of clay shrink-swell now cover 55% of French territory, up from 48% under the previous 2020 map. 

The government estimates that 12.1 million existing houses or 61.5% of all houses in France are now in a zone of exposure.

The updated map will also apply to sale agreements (promesses de vente) and deeds (actes authentiques) for building land, as well as to individual house-building contracts, meaning geotechnical study obligations linked to the risk zone may change for buyers and builders.

However, it did not update the departments taking part in the fonds de prévention argile scheme.

You can find the map here.

Why it matters for insurance claims

Clay shrink-swell damage is one of the most contentious areas of French home insurance, and owners are increasingly finding that having taken preventive action matters when it comes to claims. 

The Connexion has reported on a case in which a French court ruled that homeowners must be able to prove they took steps to prevent drought damage in order to have insurance claims accepted.

Currently, most homes that suffer damage from RGA following a drought need a natural disaster (catastrophe naturelle) to be declared in their commune, and must make a special insurance request through this process. 

Read how to do so in our article here.