Mon Accompagnateur Rénov' (MAR): the adviser behind a whole-house grant

When is a Mon Accompagnateur Rénov' compulsory?

Only for a MaPrimeRénov' rénovation d'ampleur (still often called the parcours accompagné). That route has strict entry conditions:

• the home is your principal residence and was built at least 15 years ago
• its DPE rating is E, F or G before the work
• the project gains at least two DPE classes

For a single-measure grant, such as an air-to-water heat pump on its own, a MAR is recommended but optional. Anah (the national housing agency) also requires one for its grants to landlords who let at a capped rent under an agreement. MaPrimeAdapt', the grant for adapting a home to old age or disability, uses a different adviser: an assistant à maîtrise d'ouvrage (AMO) who specialises in autonomy.

What a MAR does, from the first home visit to the final report

The MAR stays with the project from start to finish. In practice that covers:

1. A visit to the home to understand the house and your situation.
2. The energy audit, carried out by the MAR or handed to a qualified auditor.
3. Help choosing one of the audit's works scenarios, and advice on the works themselves.
4. Help filing the MaPrimeRénov' application and finding local grants that cut what you pay.
5. Advice on choosing RGE contractors and comparing their quotes.
6. A check at the end that the work done matches the scenario you chose, and a final report you countersign.

The MAR advises on contractors, but you pick them and you sign the quotes. Grant rules require the visits to happen at the property. If you live abroad, plan who will let the adviser in and be there for the handover.

Who can be approved, and why a MAR can't be your contractor

Approval comes from Anah, the national housing agency. Public advice centres (Espaces Conseil France Rénov'), architects and qualified energy auditors are among the bodies that can hold it.

The central rule is independence. A MAR can't carry out works, can't sign a works contract with you, and must stay neutral on equipment and technology. Firms that sell complete renovation packages are excluded. An architect or project manager (maître d'oeuvre) can still be your MAR, because managing a project isn't doing the work.

Before you sign with an adviser, ask for three things:

• confirmation that they're an approved adviser (the official directory of approved advisers is there if you want to confirm it)
• a contract that lists each service and its price, with any optional extras shown separately
• a written statement of any ownership link with a contractor whose quote they pass on

Be wary of a builder who offers to "include the MAR". Ask who the adviser is and whether they're approved.

What a MAR costs and how much MaPrimeRénov' pays back by income band

Each adviser sets their own fee; there's no regulated price. MaPrimeRénov' pays part of it, within a ceiling of 2,000 EUR, and the share depends on your income band:

• Bleu (very modest incomes): 100%
• Jaune (modest): 80%
• Violet (intermediate): 40%
• Rose (higher incomes): 20%

You ask for this help in the same application as the works grant. The audit is part of the MAR's service. Some local authorities pay part of what's left, so ask the adviser what applies in your commune.

Do second-home owners on the Riviera need a MAR?

Usually not. Rénovation d'ampleur is for a principal residence only, so a holiday home or second home can't use it, and there's no reason to hire a MAR for the grant. A second-home owner can still use CEE energy-saving grants and the reduced TVA (French VAT) rates, which don't depend on whether you live in the house.

If you're moving here full time, the picture changes once the house becomes your principal residence. Start with a free appointment at your nearest Espace Conseil France Rénov'. An adviser there can tell you whether your house qualifies before you pay anyone.

More on MaPrimeRénov' and the whole-house grant route

• MaPrimeRénov': the two grant routes and what each one pays for
• Audit énergétique: the assessment every whole-house project starts from
• ANAH: the agency that approves advisers and pays the grant
• MaPrimeRénov' explained: who qualifies and how to claim
• MaPrimeRénov' for expats and non-resident owners