Building and Renovation in France

Financial Assistance for Home Renovation & Improvement
- 1. VAT Relief
- 2. Improvement Grants
- 3. Home Energy Conservation
- 4. Elderly/Disabled Adaptations
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Price	Region	Bedrooms

2. Home Improvement Grants in France

2.1. Housing Improvement Agency
2.2. Eligible Persons
2.3. Eligible Properties
2.4. Eligible Works
2.5. Level of Grant
2.6. Application Process

2.2. Who is Eligible for a French Home Improvement Grant?

Owner-occupiers, tenants and landlords are eligible, on condition that the property is occupied as the principal residence for at least 6 years, or let for 9 years, following award of the grant.

Accordingly, second homes and seasonal lettings are not eligible for assistance.

Where circumstances change and the property ceases to be occupied as a principal home, or rented out, then some of the grant becomes repayable.

However, if there are strong professional, personal or medical reasons why it becomes necessary to relocate, then repayment of the grant can be waived.

Similarly, in the case of a landlord, the 9 year letting period can be reduced to 6 years if they require the property for their own occupation, or that of a family member.

Tenants on low incomes are eligible where the purpose of the works is to bring the property up to a legal standard of ‘decency’.

The grant aid is subject to means testing for owner-occupiers and tenants, but this is not the case with landlords, provided they meet the letting criteria. Nevertheless, landlords on particularly low incomes are eligible to receive a higher level and percentage rate of grant aid.

Savings are not taken into account in the assessment of resources but, as the grant will only fund a percentage of the works, you will need to find your own resources for the balance of the expenditure.

The basic annual income limits for owner-occupiers and landlords for 2009 are set out in the following tables. Remember, there is no means test for a landlord – merely that a low income gains access to a higher percentage grant award.

If the property is in a housing improvement area, or the applicant is disabled, then the following basic income limits are increased by around 30% or more for owner-occupiers.

Table: Owner-Occupiers

Household Size	Ile de France	Regions
One Person	€16,193	€11,212
Two Persons	€23,768	€16,398
Three Persons	€28,545	€19,722
Four Persons	€33,330	€23,040
Five Persons	€38,132	€26,372

Table: Landlords

Household Size	Ile de France	Regions
One Person	€10,795	€8,625
Two Persons	€15,845	€12,614
Three Persons	€19,030	€15,169
Four Persons	€22,220	€17,723
Five Persons	€25,420	€20,286

It is important to note that the definition of ‘income’ for assessment purposes is not your current or gross income, but your revenu fiscal de référence for the year n-2 as stated on your income tax notice.

That is to say, for a grant application made in 2009, it is your income for 2007 that is used.

The revenu fiscal de référence is your net income as determined by the tax authority, after taking into consideration allowances and deductions.

So, if you have recently relocated and you are looking for grant assistance, you will need to produce the income tax return from your home country.

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