2. Home Improvement Grants in France

1. 2.1. French Housing Improvement Agency
2. 2.2. Eligible Persons
3. 2.3. Eligible Properties
4. 2.4. Eligible Works
5. 2.5. Level of Grant
6. 2.6. Application Process

2.1. French Housing Improvement Agency

A system of grant aid for home improvement operates in France under the auspices of a government housing agency called Agence Nationale pour l’Amélioration de l’Habitat (ANAH).

Although grant assistance is available throughout France, access to the grants is subject to means testing, and there are maximum limits on the level of the grant. Slight variations to the national rules also occur at a departmental level.

Moreover, even if you meet the eligibility criteria, the grant is not given as an automatic right; each case is considered on its merits, within the boundaries of the main rules and in accordance with local priorities.

Many county and regional councils also have schemes of assistance available to for home improvement, for home owners and landlords alike. The assistance is often complementary to national schemes.

It may also be available to support the improvement of those areas designated of particular architectural or historic interest, called Zones de Protection du Patrimoine Architectural, Urbain et Paysager (ZPPAUP), Secteur Sauvegardé or Aires de Mise en Valeur de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine (AMVAP).

Some councils are particularly active in offering assistance to new or existing guest-house owners, although this is not universally the case, as in some parts of the country there is a surfeit of guest houses.

The rules of eligibility are determined by each department or region, so we are unable to provide details here.

Chambre d'hote owners would be best advised to first try the web site of your Conseil Général or Conseil Régional to find out generally if there is anything available, and then follow it up with a visit or written enquiry.

You may also find that some local mairie offer financial assistance, often in the form of a grant to assist with improvement of the external façade of the property, particularly if located within an improvement area. Once again, their grant will be considered along with that available from ANAH.