MaPrimeRenov' explained: what it is, who qualifies and how to claim

MaPrimeRénov' is the French state grant for energy work on a home you live in. It pays towards an air-to-water heat pump, and towards insulation or windows inside a bigger project. Nationality doesn't matter. What matters is that the house is your main home, the contractor holds the right certification, and you apply before anything is signed.

This guide covers how the grant works. If the property is a second home, or you're applying from abroad, read our MaPrimeRénov' guide for expats and second-home owners as well.

What is MaPrimeRenov'?

It's a grant, paid into your bank account after the work is done. You don't need to be a French taxpayer to receive it. ANAH, the national housing agency, runs it, and applications go through france-renov.gouv.fr.

Who qualifies for MaPrimeRénov' in France?

• You own the property as an individual, not through a company
• It's your principal residence (résidence principale). Second homes are not eligible
• It's at least 15 years old. For an air-to-water or ground-source heat pump, or a heat-network connection, on the single-measure route, 2 years is enough

British, American, German and other owners qualify on the same terms as French nationals. Landlords can apply too, provided the tenant lives there as their main home.

Which MaPrimeRénov' income band do you fall into?

The grant depends on household income. There are four bands, each with a colour:

• Très modeste (Bleu): lowest incomes, highest rates
• Modeste (Jaune): modest incomes
• Intermédiaire (Violet): middle incomes, lower rates
• Supérieur (Rose): higher incomes. Nothing on the single-measure route, lower rates on a rénovation d'ampleur

The thresholds depend on household size and on whether you live in Île-de-France. The Côte d'Azur uses the rest-of-France table. They change each year, so check your band with the simulator on france-renov.gouv.fr before you plan around a figure.

What home energy work does MaPrimeRénov' still pay for?

Since 1 September 2026 the single-measure route (par geste) covers a short list:

• Air-to-water heat pumps (PAC air-eau) and ground-source heat pumps
• Connection to a district heating network
• Removal of an oil tank

Standalone air-air heat pumps (reversible splits) are excluded. Since 1 September 2026, MaPrimeRénov' also excludes any heat pump with a gas or oil backup, so a hybrid gets nothing.

Insulation, windows and doors, VMC (mechanical ventilation) double flux, heat pump and solar water heaters, and wood or biomass stoves left the par geste route on 1 September 2026. They're now funded only through a rénovation d'ampleur, described below. Solar panels that make electricity have never been covered, under either route.

Par geste or rénovation d'ampleur: which MaPrimeRénov' route fits your house?

Par geste pays a fixed sum for one measure, such as a heat pump. You apply with a devis (written quote) and no prior audit.

A rénovation d'ampleur (parcours accompagné) funds a whole-house project. The home must be rated E, F or G and gain at least two DPE (energy performance certificate) classes. An energy audit comes first, and you must appoint a Mon Accompagnateur Rénov', an approved adviser who plans the work with you and follows the file. The grants are larger and the process is heavier. Ask the adviser at the first meeting what the audit and follow-up will cost you after the grant.

Why does the contractor need to be RGE-certified?

The grant is paid only if the contractor holds the RGE certification (the state's approved-installer label) for that type of work: QualiPAC for heat pumps, a different one for insulation. A heat pump qualification can't cover an insulation job.

Ask for the RGE number to be printed on the devis, along with the type of work it covers. Certifications lapse, and if the contractor's has, it's your application that gets rejected, so ask them to confirm in writing that it's current. The France Rénov' RGE directory is there if you want to confirm it yourself.

How do you apply for MaPrimeRénov' before the work starts?

You can't claim for work already done. The order is:

1. Get a devis from an RGE contractor, but don't sign it yet
2. Create your account on france-renov.gouv.fr. Since 17 August 2026 identity is checked through FranceConnect+, which is stricter than ordinary FranceConnect
3. Submit the application with the devis and your income details
4. Wait for the decision, usually a few weeks
5. Sign the devis once the grant is confirmed, then have the work done
6. Upload the final invoice and receive payment to your bank account

The platform is in French. Many contractors will help you through it, but the application should be in your name and visible in your own account.

How much can you receive from MaPrimeRénov'?

Amounts change every year, so use the simulator on france-renov.gouv.fr. Enter your income, postcode and the work, and it shows the current grant.

You can add CEE energy-saving grants on top, but the total is capped as a share of the cost, and the cap depends on the route. The cap is higher for lower income bands, and the simulator on france-renov.gouv.fr applies it for you. The Éco-PTZ, a zero-interest loan for a principal residence with no income condition, can cover what's left.

What MaPrimeRénov' means on the Côte d'Azur

Winters here are mild, so air-source heat pumps work well, and an air-to-water model is the usual claim. The reversible air-air splits fitted in most coastal homes aren't eligible, whatever your income.

The Département 06 adds its own layer: up to 25,400 EUR on a full renovation, and 10,000 EUR for the higher-income households that par geste turns away. It has the same principal-residence condition. Our guide to Alpes-Maritimes grants sets out the amounts and what a second-home owner can still claim. For help with contractors or the application, get in touch.

More on MaPrimeRénov', CEE and RGE in the glossary

• MaPrimeRenov': quick-reference glossary entry
• RGE certification: the contractor qualification to ask for
• CEE: the separate grant that can be combined with MaPrimeRenov'
• PAC (heat pump): the most common item claimed in this region