French DPE Energy Rating: 2022 Reform and Rental Bans

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What is the DPE and which dwellings are concerned?

The DPE (Diagnostic de Performance Énergétique) is one of the mandatory technical diagnoses that must be handed to the buyer at any property sale in France. It estimates the dwelling's greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. Performed by a certified professional, the DPE is bundled into the Dossier de Diagnostics Techniques (DDT), alongside diagnoses for technological risks, wood-boring insects, lead and asbestos.

Only dwellings located in metropolitan France are concerned, provided they are intended to be occupied for more than four months a year. The diagnosis classifies the dwelling on an A to G scale based on annual energy consumption in kWh/year. A DPE costs between €100 and €250 depending on the size and age of the property, and is valid for 10 years.

How did the DPE change in 2022?

Several DPE reforms came into force on 1 July 2021, with further changes on 1 January 2022. The first wave changed the calculation method and the legal status of the diagnosis. The second wave introduced new mandatory disclosures in property listings.

A new calculation method

The 2022 reform was meant to harmonise calculation methods across diagnosticians. Where the previous version partly relied on past energy bills, the new method is mandatory and standardised. It factors in build quality and insulation, the heating system, and now also lighting consumption and ventilation quality.

New energy labels (A to G)

The previous DPE rated dwellings with two separate labels, an energy label (based on annual consumption) and a climate label (based on greenhouse gas emissions). These two now merge into a single label that reflects overall energy performance, and the document must include an estimated annual energy bill.

A binding diagnosis instead of an informative one

Until 2021, the DPE was an informative document, unlike the binding diagnoses for lead or asbestos. The DPE is now legally binding and challengeable, which engages the seller's or landlord's liability. A buyer or tenant harmed by a flawed or fraudulent DPE can seek damages.

Restrictions on the lowest-rated dwellings

A core part of the reform targets energy-leaking properties (passoires énergétiques). Since early 2021, landlords of class F or G dwellings located in tight housing markets cannot raise rent between two leases without first carrying out energy renovation works. Since early 2022, this restriction applies to all class F or G dwellings regardless of location.

Letting bans roll out in stages:

• From 1 January 2025, class G dwellings cannot be offered for rent.
• From 2028, the ban extends to class F dwellings.
• From 2034, it reaches class E dwellings.

For non-resident owners, this matters most when a property is held as a rental investment. A class F or G apartment in Nice can become impossible to relet without significant renovation works (insulation, heating system replacement, double or triple glazing), and the timeline is short. Properties stuck below class E are also harder to sell at market price as buyers price in the renovation cost.

What property listings must now show

Since 1 January 2022, all property listings must display the energy class of the property advertised for sale or rent, along with the estimated annual energy bill.

How to improve a DPE rating

The DPE includes recommendations and pinpoints the most energy-intensive parts of the dwelling, which makes it a useful guide to plan renovation works. Improving the rating typically means upgrading insulation, the heating system and the domestic hot water installation. To cut the environmental footprint, the priority is to reduce fossil fuel consumption. French state aids exist for low-carbon installations (heat pumps, biomass boilers) but most are means-tested and reserved for French tax residents, so non-resident owners should check eligibility before counting on them.

Penalties for sellers and landlords

Failure to provide the DPE to a buyer or tenant

The buyer or tenant can take the case to a civil court (tribunal judiciaire) to seek damages.

Misleading property listings

If a listing published in the press or displayed in an agency contains incorrect information about the energy performance of the property, the buyer or tenant can sue. The seller or landlord may face damages and the cancellation of the sale or lease.

DPE performed by a non-certified diagnostician

Using a non-certified diagnostician exposes the seller or landlord to a fine of €1,500, rising to €3,000 in case of a repeat offence.

Winter Immobilier guides your property project in Nice

Looking for more advice on the Nice property market or wondering how the DPE applies to your specific situation? Get in touch with our estate agency in Nice Gambetta or reach one of our advisors directly by phone.