Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and rental ban: G, F and E ratings

In mainland France, a property classified as G on the energy performance diagnosis (DPE) can no longer be rented since January 1, 2025. The same prohibition applies to properties classified as F from January 1, 2028, and to properties classified as E from January 1, 2034. It targets contracts signed, renewed or tacitly extended from these dates (service-public.gouv.fr for class G; the fact sheet "Decent rental housing" applies the same logic to classes F and E).

A lease signed before January 1, 2025 is not immediately called into question: the rule applies to its renewal or tacit extension.

This page deals with renting a property that serves as the tenant's primary residence, or is rented under a mobility lease. It does not cover rent freezes, furnished tourist accommodations and seasonal rentals, sales, or the calculation of the rent label.

The calendar in mainland France

The dates come from the service-public.gouv.fr publication of 03/01/2025, which cites law n° 2021-1104 of 22 August 2021. For metropolitan France, the year is cross-referenced by the "Decent rental housing" fact sheet (verified on 21/03/2025), the fact sheet on the DPE (verified on 01/01/2026) and the economie.gouv.fr page of 03/09/2026, which do not all give the day and month.

Overseas

For Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion, and Mayotte, the schedule differs from that of mainland France. The two information sheets on service-public.gouv.fr that we consulted on this matter (the publication of January 3, 2025, and the "Decent Rental Housing" sheet) do not agree on the classes concerned and the dates: therefore, we are not publishing any dates for the overseas territories. Please verify with the relevant authorities.

Which leases are affected?

The ban applies to contracts "signed, renewed, or tacitly extended" from the applicable date. A lease signed before January 1, 2025, is not immediately affected. The rule will apply upon its renewal or tacit extension.

The service-public.gouv.fr website indicates that residential leases generally last three years and are then tacitly renewed for successive three-year periods. The information sheet on the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) specifies that "this also applies to the renewal of the lease or its tacit renewal.".

The guidelines on decent housing limit the scope: the accommodation must be intended to become the tenant's primary residence, or be rented under a mobility lease. The sources consulted do not address furnished tourist accommodations or seasonal rentals: this page makes no mention of them.

The landlord's energy performance certificate (DPE): validity and obligations

• Term The energy performance certificate (EPC) must be no more than ten years old at the time of signing or renewing the lease. EPCs carried out since July 1, 2021 are valid for ten years; ;
• Former Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) : those carried out from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2021 are no longer valid from January 1, 2025; ;
• Diagnostician : it must be certified. Using an uncertified diagnostician exposes you to a fine of €1,500 (€3,000 in case of repeat offence); ;
• Number : without an identification number issued by Ademe, the DPE is not valid; ;
• Discount : the landlord includes it in the technical diagnostic file and gives it to the tenant; ;
• Announcement It displays the energy and climate ratings. For a property rated F or G, it bears the label "property with excessive energy consumption". According to the information sheet, the landlord can be fined up to €3,000 (€15,000 if they are a legal entity); the sheet does not specify the offense in question.

What will change on January 1, 2027

Changes to the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) are announced, effective from this date. The two official pages consulted agree on one point: the electricity conversion coefficient used in the EPC calculation is changing from 1.9 to 1.7. They do not cite the same texts for this change, and only the service-public.gouv.fr page on the EPC mentions other changes: we will not repeat them here; please verify with the source. Regarding the change in the coefficient, the economie.gouv.fr page states that "no dwelling will see its rating decline.".

The sources consulted do not have any effect on the ban's timeline.

If the tenant disputes the decency

The tenant first notifies the landlord of the substandard condition, then sends a formal notice by registered letter. After two months without a response, or in case of disagreement, the tenant can appeal to the judge of the protection disputes division. The judge can order the necessary repairs and set a deadline, reduce the rent, or suspend rent payments and the lease term until the repairs are completed. The landlord can also appeal to the judge. The information sheet specifies that the tenant must under no circumstances unilaterally stop paying all or part of their rent.

A property classified as F, rented since September 2026: a numerical example (fictitious profile)

Situation. A landlord in Lyon signs a three-year lease on September 1, 2026, for an apartment rated F, which will be the tenant's primary residence. The dates and energy rating are hypothetical scenarios.

Issue. On what dates is the housing class reviewed again, and which classes will then be admitted?

Strategy. Set the dates for tacit renewal every three years, then read in the calendar the class admitted on each date.

Result.

A property classified as F is eligible for lease signing in 2026. Upon the first tacit renewal on September 1, 2029, it is no longer eligible: the owner must have a property classified as E or better by that date. If the property is then classified as E, it is eligible for lease signing in 2029 and 2032, but not on September 1, 2035, when only properties classified as A through D are eligible.

This profile is fictitious. The date calculation does not take into account the specifics of your lease and does not provide any results for your situation. It does not estimate any work costs.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) schedule: what changes depending on your situation

• The date of your lease : a lease signed before 2025 follows the schedule for its renewal or extension.
• The duration of your lease : three years is the general duration cited by the source; yours sets your dates.
• Your location : overseas territories follow a different timetable.
• The use of housing : the criterion used is the tenant's main residence or the mobility lease; seasonal rentals are not covered here.
• The date of your DPE : an EPC from 2018 to June 2021 is no longer valid since January 1, 2025.
• Your work MaPrimeRénov' can finance energy renovation work, depending on the source, under conditions not detailed on this page. The tax classification of the work is addressed on a dedicated page.

The rule depends on your situation. No results are guaranteed.