New reports state that French energy rankings will improve for small apartments – starting this summer.
This topic is sure to be of interest to our clients and regular readers of the 56Paris blog.
Here’s the latest update, as Paris continues to make moves toward greener, cleaner, more sustainable city living.
This July – French energy rankings will improve
In Paris, those owning smaller studios or one-bedroom apartments can sometimes face issues with the energy rating of their properties.
This is because the current system is unfairly skewed against smaller homes – making them seem less energy efficient than they really are.
But that’s all about to change.
This long-awaited reform, effective July 1, 2024, aims to provide a more accurate assessment of energy efficiency for smaller living spaces in our city.
Diagnostics and the DPE
When selling or buying properties in France, you’ll sometimes hear the term ‘diagnostics.’ But what is this?
Essentially, diagnostics are a detailed property survey, arranged by the seller when listing their apartment for sale. The full name is the Dossier de Diagnostic Technique (Technical Diagnosis File) or DDT.
It’s a topic we’ve covered in this blog previously.
These reports detail the property’s overall health, including its energy efficiency, in a section known as the Diagnostic for Energy Performance, or DPE. This assigns a grade from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) to a property’s overall energy use.
The way the rating is calculated is changing for smaller apartments to a fairer system – really good news for owners of these properties.
These changes affect 11% of all housing stock in Paris, certainly a significant figure.
What is changing?
Under the current DPE system, factors such as heating efficiency and hot water production are always given significant weighting in the calculation.
These factors can disproportionately penalize smaller apartments, which typically have lower heating and hot water needs compared to bigger properties.
The upcoming reform seeks to address this imbalance by introducing a new methodology – one that takes into account the differences of smaller dwellings. This includes a new calculation taking into account the apartment’s surface area.
This will result in a more nuanced evaluation of energy efficiency, providing a more accurate picture of a small apartment’s true environmental impact.
How small is small?
The reform coming on July 1, 2024 affects only apartments that are smaller than 40 square meters – or 430 square feet.
This is a small apartment in Paris, typically a one bedroom or a studio.
While some of the tiniest in the city – former maids’ rooms known as chambres de bonne – can have a very small floor area of around 9 to 12 square meters!
Of all the small apartments in our city, some 15% are currently rated F or G for energy efficiency. But after the reform, it’s estimated 140,000 smaller apartments in Paris will now move out of the ‘energy sieve’ category (F or G) to a more favorable E grade.
It’s making the current system more equitable for smaller apartments. For example, it’s reported that 34% of French homes less than 30 square meters have a DPE classified F or G, while this figure is just 13% for larger homes bigger than 100 square meters.
What are the benefits for smaller apartment owners?
The reform is good news for smaller apartment owners – especially those wanting to sell or rent.
It means these properties could have a better energy rating on their DPE. Landlords will benefit from the new system, as poor energy ratings can make rentals forbidden for certain properties.
This also makes selling the apartment more attractive. In a competitive market, a good DPE rating can be a significant selling point.
Finding the right Paris property for you
Overall, the DPE reform is a positive change for owners of smaller apartments in Paris – and should have real impact when selling.
Looking for advice? 56Paris is a team of local property experts, who help clients from all over the world find their dream home in Paris.
If you’re looking for a small space or any other type of property, please do get in touch.
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