Do I Need to Have a DPE to Sell a Home or Property in France?

If you plan to sell your French house, there are certain legal obligations that you must fulfil before listing the property for potential buyers. One of these obligations is to organise and conduct various Diagnostic Tests and surveys.

These tests provide valuable information about the property’s or building’s overall condition and performance. So, if you are thinking about selling your property in France, it is crucial to obtain a “diagnostic de performance énergétique, commonly called a DPE. This document will provide agents and potential buyers with valuable insights into the property’s energy efficiency.

What is a DPE Report in France?

The DPE report, an essential Energy Efficiency document, is mandatory for any property or building put up for sale or for rent in France, a requirement introduced by the French government in 2007. This report details the property’s energy consumption, greenhouse gas emission rates and insulation quality.

As part of the technical diagnostic file (DDT), the DPE must be presented to the prospective purchaser or tenant of the property. The Diagnostic Tests for the DPE vary based on whether the property is rented or sold.

Learn more on the Service-Public website. Read below for everything you need to know about energy performance diagnosis when selling a house or buying a property in France.

Guidance on Energy Performance Diagnosis

Since 1 January 2023, a residential property in metropolitan France is deemed sufficiently energy-efficient to meet the minimum rental standards if its final energy consumption is below 450 kWh per square metre of living space per year. This calculation covers energy used for heating, hot water, lighting, ventilation, and cooling.

The living area used in this calculation excludes walls, partitions, steps, stairwells, shafts, door and window embrasures, and any other areas that are not part of the habitable space. Certain areas are also excluded from the reference area, including unfinished attics, cellars, basements, sheds, garages, terraces, loggias, balconies, outdoor drying areas, unheated verandas, communal areas, outbuildings, and spaces with a ceiling height of less than 1.80 metres.

When Selling an Energy-Inefficient Property

Effective April 1, 2023, an energy audit (audit énergétique) is required when selling an individual house or a residential building with multiple dwellings classified as F or G under the DPE. This audit offers prospective buyers detailed insights into the property’s energy efficiency and recommended renovation work, complementing the DPE rather than replacing it.

The regulation has been expanded: starting January 1, 2025, an energy audit will also be mandatory for properties rated E, and from January 1, 2034, for those rated D.

These measures are part of the French government’s gradual efforts to improve the energy performance of its housing stock.

What is the DPE Diagnostic Report for?

The homeowner must initiate the DPE to evaluate the property’s energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions.

While there is no standard fee for a DPE report, and costs can fluctuate, homeowners typically invest approximately 120-150 euros. Homeowners should consider Professional Indemnity Insurance to safeguard against potential liabilities arising from energy assessments.

When selling a French property, the current owner is required to have a diagnostic de performance énergétique, or DPE, conducted by a certified professional and to incorporate it into the technical diagnostic file (DDT) for the prospective buyer. Failure to voluntarily provide the DPE to the buyer could result in the seller being held liable.

Similarly, during Legal Proceedings, a notaire could face Civil Procedure liabilities if they authorise a property sale without a valid DPE or with knowledge of deceptive information that misleads the buyer. The aggrieved buyer has the right to seek damages in court.

Who Carries out the DPE Report?

A Qualified Surveyor, who is a certified energy technician, is mandated to perform the DPE. To locate a certified diagnostician, one can refer to an online or local directory of professionals and service providers in France.

Sellers employing an uncertified technician risk a €1,500 fine, which doubles to €3,000 for subsequent violations. Similarly, a technician practising without proper certification faces the same fines, underscoring the importance of complying with legal requirements.

To complete the DPE, the technician must submit the DPE results to the Ecological Transition Agency (Ademe). Failure to do so may result in a €1,500 fine for the service provider, underscoring the necessity of Professional Indemnity Insurance for such professionals.

Ademe will issue an identification number to the technician upon receipt of the DPE results. This number is essential to the DPE’s validity and must be passed on to the seller by the technician.

What Should the DPE Report Contain?

The DPE must contain at least the following information:

• relevant characteristics of the dwelling and description of its heating equipment, domestic hot water production, cooling, ventilation and, in certain types of buildings, integrated lighting of the premises. Each equipment category must specify the conditions of use and management that affect energy consumption.
• indication of the annual quantity of energy consumed or estimated for each category of equipment according to a conventional calculation method and evaluation of these annual consumption expenditures
• assessment of the quantity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions linked to the annual quantity of energy consumed or estimated
• information on renewable energy produced by equipment installed permanently and used in the home
• classification of housing using a reference scale (Energy label) taking into account the climatic zone and altitude, carried out according to the annual quantity of energy consumed or estimated related to the surface of the dwelling (or part of it) for heating, cooling, domestic hot water production, lighting and auxiliaries for heating, cooling, domestic hot water and ventilation
• classification of housing using a reference scale (Climate label) taking into account the climatic zone and altitude, carried out according to the quantity of gas emissions greenhouse attached to the surface of the dwelling for heating, cooling, domestic hot water production, lighting and heating, cooling and hot water auxiliaries sanitary and ventilation
• recommendations aimed at improving the energy performance (for example, window insulation) of the home accompanied by an evaluation of their cost and effectiveness. These recommendations must not increase the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the homeowner’s estimate of the home’s annual energy usage.
• latest periodic boiler inspection report or annual maintenance certificate
• elements of assessment on the capacity of the accommodation to ensure thermal comfort during the summer period

Good to Know

The recommendations in the report are for informational purposes only and are intended to provide guidance on utilising the property and its equipment efficiently. It is possible to consult the details of the information which must appear on the DPE.

In the context of Legal Proceedings, the technician is liable for an incorrect DPE unless the error stems from the seller’s deliberate provision of false information about the accommodation or its equipment. Should this happen, the buyer has the right to initiate legal action to seek damages.

A QR Code is Mandatory on DPEs

From September 2025, all DPEs must include a QR code in the top right corner. Scanning it with a smartphone provides instant access to the official DPE registered with Ademe, enhancing transparency and trust.

The QR code helps combat fraud by making it more difficult to falsify documents and ensures that the displayed DPE matches the national database. It also enables quick verification of authenticity during property transactions, boosting confidence among buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants.

How Long is a DPE Report Valid for?

A Diagnostic de Performance Énergétique (DPE) is generally valid for 10 years in France. However, transitional rules apply to older DPEs. DPEs issued between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2017 expired on 31 December 2022, while those issued between 1 January 2018 and 30 June 2021 expired on 31 December 2024. These older reports are therefore no longer valid.

For DPEs carried out from 1 July 2021 onwards, the validity period is 10 years. A valid DPE is required when selling or renting a property in France.

There has also been an important change to the DPE calculation from 1 January 2026, particularly affecting properties heated by electricity. Existing DPEs remain valid, but owners with an eligible existing DPE can obtain an updated energy rating where the new calculation improves the property’s classification, without necessarily having to commission a new assessment.

Do I Need a DPE for a Private Sale?

When selling a home in France, it is crucial to understand the legal requirements and documents needed to complete the transaction.

While a DPE report is not explicitly required for a private property sale in France, it is highly recommended. A seller must provide a buyer with technical reports (dossier de diagnostic technique – DDT) covering various aspects of the property, as required by law.

A DDT report, or “diagnostic immobilier,” is a comprehensive inspection report that provides detailed information about the property’s condition and potential hazards. It covers aspects such as energy efficiency, electrical installations, gas installations, the presence of lead or asbestos, the risk and pollution report (ERP) and other relevant considerations. 

So, it is advisable to research these reports when selling your French property to ensure a smooth, legally compliant transaction.

New Threshold for Small Living Areas

Starting July 1, 2024, new DPE thresholds apply to smaller properties with a reference area of 40 square meters or less. This change aims to create a fairer evaluation of the energy performance of small homes, especially since certain energy uses, like hot water, can disproportionately affect the results.

The reference area includes the living space, heated verandas, and heated rooms intended for occupancy, with a minimum ceiling height of 1.80 meters.

For DPE assessments done between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2024, owners of properties with a reference area of 40 square meters or less can request a free certificate showing the updated DPE rating. This electronic certificate, issued by ADEME, reflects the new thresholds and does not require a new inspection.

The original DPE remains valid unless a new certificate is issued. If a revised rating is provided, the new certificate replaces the initial energy label and remains valid until the original DPE’s expiry. Approximately 140,000 small homes are estimated to have moved out of the F or G categories as a result of this reform.

New Rules for Rental Properties in France

Starting 1 January 2025, properties in metropolitan France with an F or G rating on their Diagnostic de Performance Énergétique (DPE) are classified as energy-inefficient ‘thermal sieves’ (passoires thermiques). Currently, the rental ban targets G-rated properties, prohibiting their new rental and extending to renewal or tacit renewal of existing leases.

A property with an F or G rating is considered a passoire thermique, usually due to poor insulation and high energy needs. The Climate and Resilience Law of 22 August 2021 begins a phased tightening of these regulations.

• From 1 January 2025: Properties rated G are prohibited from being rented in metropolitan France, including during tenancy renewals or tacit renewals.
• From 1 January 2028: The restriction will extend to properties rated F.
• From 1 January 2034: The restriction will extend to properties rated E.

For standard residential rentals in metropolitan France, only properties rated A to F are currently permissible. From 2028, only A to E qualify, and from 2034, only A to D qualify.

Changes to the DPE calculation in 2026-2027 are relevant for landlords; if a property’s energy rating improves due to the revised calculation, a property rated F or G could be reclassified into an eligible category.

Landlords Must Provide Decent Dwellings

The ban on renting out G-rated properties applies to lease agreements signed, renewed, or tacitly extended on or after January 1, 2025. If you signed a lease agreement before January 1, 2025, this ban on renting out G-rated properties does not affect your property.

However, the ban will apply at the time of renewal or tacit extension of your contract (generally, residential leases have a 3-year term).

Note that, from January 1, 2034, properties labelled ‘E’ on the DPE will also be considered unfit for habitation; they will no longer be allowed to be rented to tenants.

2026 DPE Reforms for Electric-Heated Homes

Starting January 1, 2026, the electricity conversion factor in the Diagnostic de Performance Énergétique (DPE) calculations was reduced from 2.3 to 1.9. This change leads to a lower estimate of primary energy consumption for electricity than the previous method.

This update particularly benefits homes that rely on electricity for heating, hot water, and other domestic uses. As a result, some properties might see an improved DPE rating, though this is not guaranteed for all properties.

From January 1, 2026, onward, all DPEs and energy audits will automatically use the new factor. DPEs performed before 2026 remain valid for the standard ten-year period. If the new calculation yields a better energy rating, property owners can receive a free updated certificate through ADEME’s DPE-Audit Observatory without another visit from the diagnostician.

Further DPE Changes from 2027

A further change to the DPE calculation will take effect from 1 January 2027. The electricity conversion factor used to turn final energy consumption into primary energy will decrease again, from 1.9 to 1.7.

This change is especially relevant for properties that rely on electricity for heating, hot water, or air conditioning. As a result, some electrically heated homes may improve by one rating class in their DPE assessment and in some cases, particularly smaller properties, by two classes. However, not all properties will necessarily see an improvement, and no property will be rated worse as a result of this change.

The French government estimates that around 300,000 homes, mainly those heated by electricity, could move out of the F or G categories due to the new calculation method. This could have important consequences for landlords, given the tightening restrictions on renting out energy-inefficient properties in France.

Starting 1 January 2027, all new DPEs will automatically include the updated factor of 1.7. Existing certificates will remain valid for 10 years, but owners can get a free, official new energy label from the ADEME DPE-Audit Observatory if the recalculations show a better rating. No new inspection will be needed, and the new certificate will have the same expiration date as the original.

For property owners and potential buyers, an F or G rating should be viewed in light of these changing DPE rules, especially for electrically heated properties. A property currently considered restricted from rental might move into a higher category after the 2027 update.

Planning to Sell your Property in France?

If you are considering selling your French house or actively searching for a holiday home in this beautiful country, you can rely on our extensive network of bilingual estate agents located throughout France. Our team of experts is well-equipped to provide you with the guidance and support you need throughout the entire process.

We encourage you to share details about your property, whether it is a modest holiday cottage or a spacious family residence.