Energy performance certificate (DPE): the French rating system explained

What it measures

The DPE calculates two things: the property's estimated energy consumption (in kWh per square metre per year) and its CO2 emissions. The letter rating is determined by whichever of those two figures is worse. A property that performs well on energy but poorly on CO2 (for example, a house heated by fuel oil) can end up with a lower rating than the energy figure alone would suggest.

The calculation is based on the physical characteristics of the building: insulation, glazing, heating and hot water systems, ventilation, and orientation. It's not based on actual bills from previous occupants. The methodology was revised in 2021 specifically to make the results more reliable and harder to manipulate.

The letter scale

• A: exceptionally efficient, below 70 kWh/m²/year
• B: very good, 70-110 kWh/m²/year
• C: good, 111-180 kWh/m²/year
• D: average, 181-250 kWh/m²/year
• E: below average, 251-330 kWh/m²/year
• F: poor, 331-420 kWh/m²/year
• G: very poor, above 420 kWh/m²/year

Most pre-1980 French properties rate D, E, or F. A-rated properties are almost exclusively new builds. On the Cote d'Azur, many older villas and apartments rate E or F because of poor insulation in walls and roofs, single-glazed windows, and outdated heating systems.

When you need a DPE

A DPE is mandatory when selling a property. It must be included in the property listing and forms part of the legal documentation (dossier de diagnostic technique) that the buyer receives before signing. For rental properties, the DPE rating must appear in the listing.

The rental restrictions are the significant development. Under French law:

• G-rated properties cannot be offered for new rental contracts from 1 January 2025
• F-rated properties face the same restriction from 2028
• E-rated properties from 2034

Properties that are already rented to a tenant on an existing contract are not immediately affected, but landlords cannot renew those contracts without bringing the property up to standard.

How it affects MaPrimeRenov' eligibility

The MaPrimeRenov' grant system uses the DPE in several ways. Some grants require the property to start below a certain energy rating. The Parcours accompagne scheme (for major whole-house renovation) requires an improvement of at least two DPE classes as the target. And certain work types are only eligible above a threshold of improvement. In practice, this means the DPE you obtain before renovating sets the baseline for what grants you can access.

Getting a DPE done

A DPE must be carried out by a certified diagnostiqueur: an independent surveyor who holds a professional certification and carries insurance for the work. You can find certified diagnostiqueurs through the ADEME register at observatoire-dpe.fr. ADEME (the French environment and energy management agency) is the official body responsible for DPE methodology; their site at ademe.fr is the authoritative source on how the rating is calculated. For a standard apartment or house, the cost is typically 100-250 EUR. Larger or more complex properties cost more.

The DPE is valid for 10 years, though it becomes outdated if you carry out significant renovation work. Once you've improved the property, it's worth getting a new one issued, both to reflect the current reality and to unlock any rental restrictions that applied to the old rating.

What to watch when buying

When you receive the DPE as part of a property purchase, read it alongside the recommandations: the diagnostiqueur lists specific improvement works that would raise the rating. This gives you a practical picture of what renovation would be needed and what it might cost. Many buyers on the Cote d'Azur overlook this section. A property rated E with a recommendation for roof insulation and a heat pump is a different proposition from one rated E because of structural issues that are harder to resolve.

Related terms

• MaPrimeRenov': grant eligibility is tied to the current DPE rating and the improvement target
• RGE certification: contractors who carry out improvement work must be RGE-certified for grants to apply