ANAH: France's national housing agency and its role in renovation grants

What does ANAH actually do?

ANAH is a public agency overseen by the housing ministry. It puts public money into improving private homes through grants, subsidised loans and technical support. Its remit covers energy renovation, adapting homes for age or disability, tackling substandard housing and helping low-income owners who can't pay for work themselves.

It doesn't build or manage social housing. It works only on existing private homes.

Does ANAH decide who gets MaPrimeRénov'?

ANAH runs the scheme but doesn't write its rules. The government sets the amounts and conditions by decree, revised each year, and funds the grant from the national budget. ANAH handles the applications, checks eligibility, approves files and pays.

The rule that matters most for readers here: MaPrimeRénov' is for a principal residence only, so a second home can't get it. When a contractor says "we'll submit it to ANAH", they mean the france-renov.gouv.fr portal. You don't contact ANAH directly to apply.

Ask the contractor to file in your name, and to confirm in writing that the application goes in before any work starts. It should then show in your own france-renov.gouv.fr account.

Which other ANAH grants might a Riviera homeowner meet?

Besides MaPrimeRénov', ANAH runs these:

• MaPrimeAdapt': a grant for adapting a home so you can keep living there independently. It's open to owners aged 70 and over with no further condition, to those aged 60 to 69 with early loss of autonomy, and to anyone with a disability rate over 50% or eligible for the PCH (prestation de compensation du handicap, a disability allowance). It covers work such as bathroom adaptations, stairlifts and wider doorways.
• MaPrimeRénov' rénovation d'ampleur (parcours accompagné): the route for whole-house renovation of a principal residence rated E, F or G. It needs an energy audit and a Mon Accompagnateur Rénov' adviser, and pays higher rates.
• Aide aux propriétaires bailleurs: grants for landlords who let to low-income tenants under an agreement with ANAH (conventionnement). The home must reach a minimum energy standard and be let at a capped rent for at least 6 years.

Does ANAH have an office for the Alpes-Maritimes?

ANAH has a local delegation in each département. Most MaPrimeRénov' applications are handled online and never involve it. The delegation may step in on complex cases such as large renovations, landlord agreements or disputes. Contact details for the Alpes-Maritimes delegation are on anah.gouv.fr.

Who do you contact when a MaPrimeRénov' file gets stuck?

Start with the messaging system in the france-renov.gouv.fr portal, for documents stuck in review, a grant not paid or a question about your file. If that doesn't resolve it, contact the local ANAH delegation. The national France Rénov' helpline is 0808 800 700 (free from France) and handles MaPrimeRénov' questions as well as general renovation advice.

More on ANAH grants, loans and energy ratings

• MaPrimeRénov': the grant scheme ANAH runs
• Audit énergétique: required for a rénovation d'ampleur
• DPE: the energy rating that decides which route a home can use
• RGE certification: the contractor qualification MaPrimeRénov' requires
• Éco-PTZ: the zero-interest loan that can be combined with MaPrimeRénov' in a principal residence
• MaPrimeRénov' explained: who qualifies and how to claim