Artisans et Bois n°83
MaPrimeRénov'
at a Dead End
After a start to 2026 already disrupted by rising fuel prices, yet another overhaul of the REP PMCB (extended producer responsibility scheme for construction products), and still sluggish activity for many building professionals, the fall promises to be just as turbulent with a new evolution of MaPrimeRénov'. Announced by the government before the summer, this latest version of the scheme—already reworked so many times—provides for the outright exclusion of certain single-gesture works. Since September 1, attic insulation, the installation of wood stoves and biomass boilers, and window replacement are no longer eligible for state aid! The new rules favor "comprehensive" renovations instead.
In principle, concentrating funding on the most energy-efficient projects is a reasonable approach. But reality is quite different. A large-scale renovation represents a significant budget that few households can afford. In practice, it is often approached step by step, according to each household's means and priorities. By excluding single-gesture works, it is precisely this gradual approach that is now under threat.
The paradox is all the more striking given that this decision comes as heatwaves grow more frequent, as adapting housing to climate change has become a necessity, and as the crackdown on thermally inefficient homes ("passoires thermiques") is more topical than ever. In this context, narrowing the scope of MaPrimeRénov' amounts to removing one of the most effective levers for energy renovation!
Beyond the measure itself, it is above all the scheme's repeated reversals that raise concern. Postponements, suspensions, reopenings, new restrictions... the MaPrimeRénov' saga seems never-ending, and this chronic "instability" fuels wait-and-see behavior among homeowners just as much as it undermines businesses' visibility. In a timber industry already affected by the slowdown in new construction, renovation has become an essential driver of activity. Cutting certain measures from the scheme risks putting even more strain on a great many professionals.
Adèle Cazier