France’s 2026 DPE Reform: Why Some Electrically Heated Homes Can Now Receive a Better Energy Rating

A New Calculation Method Introduced in 2026

Since the beginning of the year, some property owners have been able to obtain an improved energy rating without carrying out any renovation work.

The change concerns the coefficient used to convert the electricity consumed by a property into primary energy. Since 1 January 2026, this coefficient has been reduced from 2.3 to 1.9, under a ministerial order dated 13 August 2025 and published in the French Official Journal.

In practical terms, when a home uses one kilowatt-hour of electricity, the DPE calculation now treats this as 1.9 kilowatt-hours of primary energy, compared with 2.3 previously. The new coefficient brings the French calculation method into line with the updated European reference value.

The change applies to both Energy Performance Certificates and statutory energy audits. Documents produced since 1 January 2026 automatically incorporate the new coefficient.

Source: Ministerial order of 13 August 2025 — Légifrance.

Why Were Electrically Heated Homes Disadvantaged?

The DPE does not rely solely on the amount of energy delivered to and used within a property. It also considers “primary energy”: the total amount of energy required to produce and deliver the energy ultimately used by the occupant.

Until the end of 2025, every kilowatt-hour of electricity used in a home was therefore multiplied by 2.3 when calculating its conventional primary-energy consumption. For gas, wood and other energy sources, the conversion factor is 1.

This method could place certain electrically heated homes at a disadvantage, particularly smaller properties, even when their greenhouse-gas emissions were relatively low.

With the coefficient now reduced to 1.9, the calculated primary-energy consumption of these homes falls automatically. Their DPE rating may consequently improve, provided that primary-energy consumption was the factor limiting the property’s overall rating.

A DPE includes both an energy-consumption rating and a greenhouse-gas emissions rating. The property’s final classification is determined by the poorer of the two results. A lower electricity coefficient therefore does not guarantee that every electrically heated home will move into a better class.

Source: French Ministry for Ecological Transition — changes to the DPE calculation.

Up to 850,000 Homes Could Lose Their “Energy-Inefficient” Status

According to estimates published by the French Ministry for Ecological Transition, approximately 850,000 homes heated primarily with electricity could move out of the F or G categories under the new calculation method.

The estimate is based on the position of France’s main-residence housing stock as of 1 January 2023, when approximately 4.8 million properties were classified as F or G. It does not mean that 850,000 homes have already changed category: each existing DPE must be recalculated individually.

The properties most likely to benefit include:

• homes heated primarily with electricity;

• apartments fitted with electric radiators or a heat pump;

• certain studios and smaller properties;

• homes previously located close to the threshold between two DPE classes;

• properties rated E, F or G because of their calculated primary-energy consumption.

However, a poorly insulated home will not automatically become energy efficient. The reform changes a regulatory calculation method, but it does not reduce the property’s actual heating requirements or the occupant’s electricity bills.

Source: French Ministry for Ecological Transition — estimated impact on energy-inefficient homes.

How Can Owners Check Whether Their Property Benefits?

Owners do not necessarily need to commission a completely new DPE.

Certificates produced since 1 July 2021 and still valid can be recalculated automatically. When the new method results in a better energy class, owners can download a free official update certificate from ADEME’s DPE-Audit Observatory.

The process involves four steps:

1. visit the ADEME DPE-Audit Observatory;

2. search for the relevant DPE using its 13-character identification number;

3. check whether an updated energy label is available;

4. download the certificate and retain it with the original DPE.

The update certificate does not replace the entire original diagnostic report. It must be attached to the initial DPE to provide evidence of the new rating, particularly when the property is advertised for sale or rent.

If no update certificate is available, the revised electricity coefficient has not resulted in a change of category for the property. Its calculated primary-energy consumption may nevertheless have fallen without crossing the threshold required to achieve a better rating.

Source: French Ministry for Ecological Transition — downloading an updated DPE certificate.

Significant Consequences for Landlords

The issue extends beyond the way a property is presented in an advertisement. In France, a home’s energy rating now determines whether certain properties can legally be rented as a tenant’s main residence.

Since 1 January 2025, properties rated G have failed to meet France’s minimum energy-performance standard for decent housing. This rule applies to tenancy agreements signed, renewed or automatically extended from that date.

The regulatory timetable then provides that:

• from 1 January 2028, a property will need to be rated between A and E to meet the minimum energy-performance standard;

• from 1 January 2034, it will need to be rated between A and D.

A home moving from G to F under the recalculation may therefore cease to be affected by the energy-related rental restriction introduced in 2025, provided that it meets all the other statutory standards for decent housing.

Similarly, a change from F to E could significantly affect a landlord’s position as the 2028 deadline approaches.

The updated certificate must nevertheless be obtained before the property is advertised or presented under its new energy rating.

Source: Service-Public.fr — progressive rental restrictions for energy-inefficient homes.

What Effect Could the Reform Have on a Property Sale?

When a property is sold in France, the DPE forms part of the information provided to prospective buyers, and its rating must appear in the property advertisement. A new energy class can therefore affect how buyers assess and compare the property.

However, it would be misleading to assume that a better DPE rating automatically increases a property’s value. The price of a home also depends on its location, general condition, building quality, service charges, required works and local market conditions.

An administrative improvement to the DPE must not conceal genuine weaknesses within the property, such as insufficient insulation, ageing windows, inadequate ventilation or inefficient heating equipment.

Buyers and owners should therefore examine the entire diagnostic report rather than focusing solely on the letter displayed on the energy label.

An Essential Check Before Selling or Letting a Property

The 2026 DPE reform is a positive development for part of France’s electrically heated housing stock. It may allow certain owners to restore their ability to rent out a property, present it more favourably for sale or reconsider the extent and timing of planned energy-efficiency work.

However, every property must be assessed individually. Owners should check the revised rating through ADEME’s official platform and attach the corresponding update certificate to the original DPE.

Before selling, letting or beginning renovation work, it is therefore advisable to check the validity of the existing DPE, download any available update certificate and identify which improvements remain genuinely necessary.

LGH Patrimoine supports property owners with the assessment, sale, letting and management of their assets, taking account of regulatory developments and the individual characteristics of each property.