The housing sector in France is going through a period of conflicting tensions. On one hand, energy renovation aids are tightening around more ambitious projects. On the other hand, a bill is attempting to revive new construction while managing the fate of the most energy-intensive housing. These simultaneous movements are reshaping the priorities of households, social landlords, and construction professionals.
MaPrimeRénov’ after September 2026: isolated works on the decline
Since September 1, 2026, the MaPrimeRénov’ scheme has undergone a marked refocusing. According to the French Building Federation, several isolated works are no longer eligible for the “per gesture” pathway: insulation of roofs and attics, ventilation, wood or pellet equipment, thermodynamic and solar thermal water heaters. These items, which represented a significant portion of the submitted files, are now outside the scope of one-off aid.
The supported equipment can be counted on one hand: air/water heat pumps, geothermal or solar thermal systems, connection to a heat network, and certain energy audits. The signal is clear. The State is pushing for comprehensive renovations rather than one-off gestures.
For construction professionals, this shift creates an operational difficulty. Craftsmen specializing in attic insulation or pellet stove installation lose a direct commercial lever. Households with modest incomes, who were proceeding in stages due to insufficient budgets, now face a binary choice: undertake a structured renovation or give up.
Field feedback varies on this point, with some professionals noting a postponement of projects rather than an upgrade in quality. It is possible to access Direct Home news to follow these regulatory developments over the weeks.
Housing Bill: Thermal sieves and new construction
The “Revival and Decentralization of Housing” bill, examined in the National Assembly starting September 21, 2026, addresses two issues that crystallize the tensions in the real estate sector.
The first concerns thermal sieves. The text proposes to allow, under certain conditions, the continued rental of certain homes classified G or F in the energy performance diagnosis. This provision effectively temporarily relaxes the gradual ban on renting that was supposed to apply. The political arbitration oscillates between two risks: removing too many homes from an already tight rental market, or keeping households in poorly insulated housing.
The second aspect aims to accelerate the construction of new housing, by simplifying procedures and expanding the decision-making margins of local authorities. The available data does not yet allow for measuring the concrete effect of these measures on construction starts, as the text is still under parliamentary discussion.
What the project does not address
The crisis in new construction is part of a broader context. Material costs remain high, the processing times for building permits have not decreased, and social landlords face financial constraints that limit their ability to launch new programs. The bill proposes a framework, but professionals are primarily waiting for financial means and price signals.
Social housing and adaptation to heatwaves: a silent project
One topic largely flying under the media radar is the adaptation of social housing to heatwaves. The Bank of Territories announced at the end of September 2026 the release of funds dedicated to this project. HLM landlords manage an aging stock where summer overheating is becoming a recurring health issue.
Adapting these homes is not limited to installing air conditioners. The avenues explored by social landlords touch on the very design of the buildings:
- Strengthening the thermal insulation of roofs and south-facing facades to limit heat gain without resorting to active cooling
- Installing external solar protections (sunshades, blinds, facade greening) that reduce indoor temperatures by several degrees
- Natural nighttime ventilation through systems that harness the coolness of the nights, a low-energy-cost approach
These interventions raise a funding question. Energy renovation budgets primarily serve to reduce heating consumption, not to address summer comfort. Adapting to climate change in social housing requires specific funding, and the budgetary arbitrations of the 2027 finance bill will be crucial.
2027 Budget and Construction Sector: a sector under pressure
The construction sector is facing a decline in construction starts and a contraction in renovation activity, amplified by the tightening of MaPrimeRénov’.
The refocusing of the scheme on comprehensive renovations, which are more costly by nature, poses a difficult equation: increased decarbonization ambitions, but financial means under pressure.
For local areas, the stakes go beyond just the construction sector. Construction and renovation generate non-relocatable local jobs. A prolonged slowdown affects craftsmen, design offices, material suppliers, and ultimately, households that postpone their projects.
- Social landlords are awaiting clarifications on the financing conditions for comprehensive renovations and climate adaptation
- Construction craftsmen are calling for multi-year visibility on aids, rather than semi-annual adjustments that destabilize order books
- Local authorities are requesting more autonomy in the allocation of aids, a focus of the bill under discussion
The second half of 2026 thus concentrates several deadlines that will determine the trajectory of the housing sector for the coming years. Between aid restrictions, legislative revival, and climate adaptation, the ongoing arbitrations engage both the quality of the housing stock and the economic health of an entire sector.
