In a context marked by constantly evolving public support schemes such as MaPrimeRénov’, energy renovation remains a complex issue for many homeowners in France.Laurent Permasse, Director of Sofinco Eco Transitions and specialist in personal financing at CA Personal Finance and Mobility, explains Sofinco’s role and answers questions about the barriers to renovation and the best practices to adopt before starting an energy renovation project.
These frequent changes create a wait-and-see attitude among homeowners who could otherwise benefit from the available aid. Faced with uncertainty, many prefer to postpone their projects rather than commit to construction work.To remove this obstacle, the French government needs to provide more long-term stability and clarity. This is an essential condition to encourage people to move forward with energy renovation projects.
As a financial agent for Anah, Sofinco can advance public subsidies directly to contractors, once the work has been completed and validated by government services.This prevents them from having to draw on their cash flow while waiting for the funds to be paid.
In practical terms, we shorten the usual delay between the end of the work and the actual payment of subsidies by several weeks—or even several months.On the administrative side, the preparation of application files is handled by certified RGE professionals and specialized platforms such as Homelior.
The first step—and often the most overlooked—is to carry out an energy audit, which goes far beyond a simple energy performance diagnosis (DPE).The energy audit provides a comprehensive overview of the property’s energy performance and offers tailored renovation scenarios, ranked by priority and efficiency.
To find a qualified professional, homeowners should rely on France Rénov’, the public service for housing renovation, which lists certified advisors across the country.