The PTZ (Zero-Interest Loan) is an interest-free loan that finances part of the purchase of your primary residence. It does not finance the entire purchase; it must supplement at least one other loan. Eligibility is determined by three factors: not having owned your primary residence in the past two years (with some exceptions), the type of housing sought, and your income, compared to a ceiling that varies depending on the zone and the number of people in your household.
This page is based on the public service fact sheet F10871 (verified on September 15, 2026) and the economie.gouv.fr page dedicated to the PTZ (written on April 2, 2025). It summarizes the information contained in both pages. It does not provide an end date for the program, does not address the loan-to-value ratios for existing properties, and does not provide interest rates.
The situations in question
| Situation | What the official pages say |
|---|---|
| New housing | Housing completed less than 5 years ago, intended for its first occupancy (public service) |
| Old housing | Municipality in zone B2 or C, with energy saving or improvement works representing at least 25 % of the total cost of the operation (public service) |
The guide also covers the purchase of social housing and the conversion of commercial premises into housing. economie.gouv.fr adds rent-to-own, the affordable home lease, and homeownership with reduced VAT. These cases are not detailed here.
What is required of the borrower
- A primary residence. The property must be occupied no later than 1 year after its purchase or the completion of the works, and at least 8 months per year.
- Not having owned one's main residence during the 2 years preceding the PTZ.
- Only one PTZ through real estate transactions.
- Another loan, because the PTZ is requested in addition to at least 1 other loan.
- An accredited establishment. Only financial institutions that have signed an agreement with the State can grant a PTZ.
The two-year condition has exceptions, listed in the service-public fact sheet: usufruct or bare ownership of the main residence, "disability" inclusion mobility card, 2nd or 3rd category disability card, allowance for disabled adults or education of the disabled child, and housing made permanently uninhabitable by a natural or technological disaster.
New or old: what changes depending on the accommodation
The ninth. For offers issued up to March 2025, the service-public information sheet mentions a zone requirement: municipality in zone A, Abis or B1. From April 1, 2025, economie.gouv.fr states that the PTZ "is now extended to all new housing", based on article 90 of the 2025 finance law.
The old one. The property must be located in zone B2 or C and undergo energy-saving or improvement work representing at least 25% of the total cost of the operation to be financed. The work must be completed within a period not exceeding 3 years from the date the PTZ offer is issued (extension possible in certain cases, according to the information sheet). economie.gouv.fr refers to relaxed zones (B2 and C) and work "for a certain amount," without specifying the percentage: the 25% figure comes solely from the service-public information sheet.
economie.gouv.fr indicates that combining with MaPrimeRénov' is authorized to finance a major renovation.
Income taken into account and ceilings
The income to be taken into account is that of year N-2. The public service information sheet specifies that the amount retained is the higher of this income and the total cost including VAT of the operation divided by 9. Both pages give the same income ceilings for offers from April 2025 onwards.
| People housed | Zone A / Abis | Zone B1 | Zone B2 | Zone C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €49,000 | €34,500 | €31,500 | €28,500 |
| 2 | €73,500 | €51,750 | €47,250 | €42,750 |
| 4 | €102,900 | €72,450 | €66,150 | €59,850 |
| 8 and more | €161,700 | €113,850 | €103,950 | €94,050 |
The lines for 3, 5, 6 and 7 people appear on both pages and are not reproduced here.
The cost taken into account, the bracket and the percentage
The PTZ is calculated on a maximum cost taken into account, which depends on the zone and the number of people (new, offers from April 2025).
| People housed | Zone A / Abis | Zone B1 | Zone B2 | Zone C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €150,000 | €135,000 | €110,000 | €100,000 |
| 2 | €225,000 | €202,500 | €165,000 | €150,000 |
| 4 | €315,000 | €283,500 | €231,000 | €210,000 |
| 5 and more | €360,000 | €324,000 | €264,000 | €240,000 |
The income bracket is determined by dividing the income used for calculation by a family coefficient: 1 for 1 person, 1.5 for 2, 1.8 for 3, 2.1 for 4, and 2.4 for 5 or more. The result is compared to thresholds that vary depending on the zone.
| Bracket | Zone A / Abis | Zone B1 | Zone B2 | Zone C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | up to €25,000 | up to €21,500 | up to €18,000 | up to €15,000 |
| 2 | up to €31,000 | up to €26,000 | up to €22,500 | up to €19,500 |
| 3 | up to €37,000 | up to €30,000 | up to €27,000 | up to €24,000 |
| 4 | up to €49,000 | up to €34,500 | up to €31,500 | up to €28,500 |
For a standard new dwelling (collective building), the PTZ can represent a maximum of 50 % of the cost taken into account in tranche 1, 40 % in tranches 2 and 3, and 20 % in tranche 4. economie.gouv.fr specifies that the percentages are different for new individual houses; these percentages are not repeated here, the two pages describing this case differently.
The final amount also takes into account other loans: for tranches 2 to 4, the information sheet states that "the amount of the zero-interest loan (PTZ) must not exceed the amount of the other loan(s) with a term of more than 2 years." This can be verified with the bank.
Duration and delay
The repayment period cannot exceed 25 years. Repayment can be made in one period, or in two periods with a deferral. The two pages describe this deferral differently: the service-public.fr page states that it cannot be less than 2 years, while economie.gouv.fr states that it can be up to a maximum of 15 years.
The end date of the scheme
economie.gouv.fr links the extension to new housing to a specific deadline. The service-public.fr fact sheet, verified on September 15, 2026, mentions neither a deadline nor any finance law. Neither page mentions the 2026 finance law. Therefore, we are not publishing an end date: this should be verified on the current official source before deciding whether to wait or purchase.
PTZ: numerical example (fictitious profile)
Situation. Claire and Julien, with two children (4 people living in the household), are considering buying a new apartment in a multi-unit building in zone B1. Total cost including VAT: €300,000. Assumptions in the hypothetical profile: reference tax income for year N-2 of €60,000, and another loan to supplement the financing plan.
Issue. Are they below the income ceiling, in which bracket, and what is the resulting maximum zero-interest loan (PTZ)?
Strategy. Take the higher of the reference tax income and the total cost divided by 9, compare it to the ceiling of zone B1 for 4 people (€72,450), divide by the coefficient 2.1 to find the bracket, then apply the quota to the capped cost (€283,500 in zone B1 for 4 people).
Result.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Income withheld | max(60,000; 300,000 ÷ 9 = 33,333) | €60,000 |
| Income ceiling (B1, 4 people) | 60,000 ≤ 72,450 | respected |
| Income ÷ coefficient | 60,000 ÷ 2.1 | €28,571: tranche 3 (from €26,001 to €30,000) |
| Cost taken into account | min(300,000; 283,500) | €283,500 |
| maximum PTZ | 283,500 × 40% | €113,400 |
Two scenarios, with the same assumptions: with a reference tax income of €80,000, the income used for calculation exceeds €72,450 and the household is above the threshold. With an income of €50,000 but a transaction costing €700,000, the cost divided by 9 equals €77,778: the income used for calculation also exceeds the threshold.
This profile is fictitious. The calculation does not take into account the rules related to other loans, nor the actual price of the property beyond the capped cost. It illustrates a mechanism and does not predict your situation.
PTZ: what changes depending on your case
- Your reference tax income for year N-2, and the total cost of the operation, which can cover it.
- The area of the municipality and the number of people who will occupy the accommodation.
- New or old, and in the old system, the proportion of work in the total cost.
- Your past as a homeowner of main residence, and any possible exceptions.
- The main loan to which the zero-interest loan (PTZ) is added. For this financing, Balmont Conseil puts you in touch with its banking partners. No interest rates are given on this page.
The rule depends on your situation. No results are guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
Does the PTZ (zero-interest loan) finance the entire purchase?
No. economie.gouv.fr states that it "cannot finance the entire purchase of your residence" and must be supplemented by a mortgage. The service-public information sheet advises applying for it in addition to at least one other loan.
Can I get a zero-interest loan if I have already owned property?
You must not have owned your primary residence during the 2 years preceding the PTZ (zero-interest loan). Exceptions exist, for example for usufruct or bare ownership, or for a dwelling rendered uninhabitable by a natural or technological disaster.
Can you get a zero-interest loan (PTZ) for older properties anywhere in France?
No. The public service form requires a municipality in zone B2 or C, and works representing at least 25 % of the total cost of the operation.
Take stock before buying
Your location, income, type of housing, and primary loan are compared based on specific documents before signing. Schedule an appointment with Balmont Conseil, a Lyon-based firm established for nearly 14 years, to discuss your situation.
Alexis SagnierFinancial and real estate investment advisor, insurance broker, AMF certified
Founder of Balmont Conseil, Lyon (ORIAS 13003497)
Read also
- Eco-PTZ: conditions, amounts and eligible works
- Rental investment in 2026: schemes still available
- Property tax: exemptions and reductions
- Off-plan purchase: completion guarantee and staggered payments
- Notary fees: transfer taxes, for existing and new properties
- Vacant housing: TLV and THLV, who is affected?
Official sources
- service-public.gouv.fr, fact sheet F10871, Zero-interest loan (PTZ or PTZ+) (verified on 15/09/2026): https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F10871
- economie.gouv.fr, Zero-interest loan (PTZ): everything you need to know (written on 02/04/2025): https://www.economie.gouv.fr/particuliers/emprunter-et-sassurer/pret-taux-zero-ptz-tout-ce-quil-faut-savoir
