MaPrimeRénov': in the face of discontent, the system is maintained for isolated renovation work
By The New Obs with AFP
Published on
The MaPrimeRenov' logo on a smartphone on December 19, 2024. JEAN-MARC BARRERE / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP
Faced with discontent in the construction sector, the government has decided to maintain the MaPrimeRénov' energy renovation aid scheme for isolated projects, while warning that it would not be "an unlimited bottomless pit." The Ministry of Housing has also announced changes to the scheme to reduce the amount of aid for projects involving major renovations.
"The single-use health insurance counter will not be closing (for the summer, editor's note), this is a decision that was taken by the government following a consultation with the sector, which had expressed (...) strong dissatisfaction," explained the office of the Minister for Housing, Valérie Létard, on Monday, June 16, during a press briefing. These isolated renovation works include, for example, the installation of a boiler or the fitting of windows.
However, maintaining aid for these smaller operations for the summer is not "an unconditional continuation" , warned the ministry, which mentions possible modifications to the rules concerning "single-action" work by "2026" .
"Legitimate claim"In terms of major works, several options were mentioned, such as "refocusing on the most energy-intensive housing" and "lowering the ceiling for subsidizable work" so that it "does not exceed 50,000 euros" . The ministry also plans to eliminate the 10% bonus on the amount of work to remove a housing from categories F or G, the most energy-intensive according to the energy performance diagnosis .
The French Building Federation, which has been strongly opposed to the suspension of MaPrimeRénov announced on June 4, has welcomed the continuation of aid for single-action work as a "great and significant victory." "The in-depth work and negotiations undertaken over the past ten days, followed by the decision to mobilize nationally and locally (...) have borne fruit," a press release on Monday read.
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"It was a legitimate demand," its president, Olivier Salleron, told AFP. "Renovation by gestures works, it's simpler, much less expensive (than large-scale renovation, editor's note), it saves between 35% and 50% more energy. And it provides work for a lot of craftsmen," he explained.
“Professionalization of fraud”The FFB had passed a resolution on Friday calling for "on-the-ground mobilizations" to protest from July 2 if the suspension of MaPrimeRénov' energy renovation aid was maintained. It provided for "on-the-ground protest actions" in the absence of "significant, concrete, and rapid progress." Olivier Salleron had promised a mobilization with "vans, construction equipment, trucks, which are bigger than tractors."
Several professional building associations had requested at least the continuation of subsidies for assistance with renovations through gestures.
The minister's office also addressed the "weaknesses" of the MaPrimeRénov' scheme, which , according to the government, justified its suspension and overhaul. The reasons for this include, in particular, "the professionalization of fraud" and its "growth" in major renovations "due to unscrupulous renovation advisors ," the professionals responsible for advising individuals on the work to be carried out, whose assistance is mandatory when submitting an application.
File traffic jamEight million euros in aid is currently the subject of litigation and recovery proceedings, the ministry estimated. The "potential fraud" calculated by Tracfin, an organization that combats clandestine financial circuits, is estimated to be around 50 million euros.
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