Estimate renovation gains to French home with new official tool
Studies claim properties in some regions could see their values increase by 20% following energy-efficiency upgrades
The tool uses the DPE energy audit system
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A new online tool allows homeowners to assess how energy-efficiency renovations in their property could affect its value.
The free government calculator was made based on data from French notaires and recent major studies on energy renovations to buildings in the country.
The information calculates how a change in the property’s energy audit score (Diagnostic de performance énergétique or DPE) affects its value.
Energy-efficiency renovations do not result in saving money on bills or allow homes to be put on the rental market but can significantly increase property values.
In the Occitanie region, a study by notaires found that those properties with the highest DPE scores, A and B, had an average 20% higher value than those with a D rating.
How does the tool work
The tool, called Ma plus-value Réno, is found via the government’s Mes Aides Réno website.
To use it, you must enter basic information about your property and plans, including:
Location (town and postcode)
Current value estimation
Current DPE rating (either from an official audit or an estimation)
Estimated DPE rating after renovations are complete
You do not need to cite what renovations you are planning to carry out, simply the estimated change to your property’s rating after these have been completed.
The estimated increase to your DPE rating based on a renovation varies, however the calculator requires you to add an estimated two points.
For example, if your current rating is ‘G’, you can only select a post-renovation option of ‘E’ or higher. For an ‘F’-rated property, ‘D’ is the minimum post-renovation selection.
You should be able to find online the estimated increase to a DPE rating resulting from renovation, or by asking the tradesperson that you have hired.
The Connexion run two examples: the first for a €300,000 flat in Nice with a DPE rating of ‘F’, improved to a rating of ‘D’, which could see its value increased to €342,857.
The website provides the average value increase for the region based on different ratings (in this case, a 14.3% increase in value).
For a ‘G’-rated property in Bergerac worth an estimated €210,000, the value could increase to €232,105 for works resulting in an ‘E’ rating.
The website acknowledges that these are estimations (based on current data) and that the increase in value is not guaranteed.
Check what aides are available with same tool
Another helpful section of the site allows you to complete a second questionnaire to find out what renovations are best suited for the property.
It also shows if you are eligible for financial assistance via government schemes for such renovations.
Questions include basic information about size and status of the property, who lives there, and income/revenu fiscal de référence levels.
Note that the major government-funded grant scheme MaPrimeRénov’ has been temporarily suspended, which may impact some of the potential aids shown on the site.
