Energy audit when selling in France: who and when

Which homes are affected?

The regulatory audit covers residential buildings in monopropriété (single ownership), meaning owned by one owner or by owners in indivision (joint ownership) (ecologie.gouv.fr). In practice:

• detached and individual houses;
• buildings with several dwellings owned by the same owner;
• the residential parts of a mixed-use building;
• residential parts not yet placed under co-ownership status;
• unless the regulations provide otherwise, a house forming an independent lot within a so-called “horizontal” copropriété.

A flat sold in a building in co-ownership is therefore not subject to the audit: only the DPE is required.

The ministry specifies that the requirement applies to properties whose compromis de vente (preliminary sale contract) (or, failing that, the deed of sale) is signed after each stage comes into force.

The timetable: F and G, then E, then D

Source: ecologie.gouv.fr, “Audit énergétique réglementaire” page. The service-public.gouv.fr page on the DPE (checked on 1 January 2026) confirms that in 2026 the audit is required for houses and buildings in single ownership rated E, F or G.

Watch out for changes to the DPE. Since 1 January 2026, the conversion factor for electricity has fallen from 2.3 to 1.9: a home heated by electricity may change rating. DPEs from 2025 and earlier remain valid but can be updated free of charge if the rating improves (service-public.gouv.fr). An arrêté (ministerial order) of 19 August 2026 lowers this factor further to 1.7, and an arrêté of 11 June 2026 creates a new rating for certain buildings; these changes will apply from 1 January 2027. A home rated E today could therefore fall outside the scope of the audit once its DPE is updated.

What does the audit contain?

Article L126-28-1 requires the audit to propose works suited to the building, at a proportionate cost, organised as a renovation pathway: a first stage reaches at least rating E, and the pathway aims for rating B where this is technically and economically feasible. The audit states the theoretical energy savings, an estimate of the cost and the public grants available.

The ministry details the content laid down by the arrêté of 4 May 2022:

• a survey of the current state of the property (insulation, heating, hot water, ventilation, cooling, lighting);
• an estimate of performance before works, with the DPE ratings;
• at least two scenarios for works, in one or several stages, aiming at least for rating B after works, save for exceptions;
• for each stage: rating achieved, energy savings, range of savings on the bill, estimated cost of the works, main national and local grants;
• information on ventilation, controlling equipment and handling the interfaces between stages.

The auditor must visit the property and may not subcontract the audit. The audit is sent to the Ademe (the French agency for ecological transition).

Who carries it out, who pays, when to hand it over

Who pays? The selling owner, at their own expense, before putting the property on the market (ecologie.gouv.fr).

Who carries it out? An independent, insured and qualified professional. For a house: qualified engineering consultancies (for example OPQIBI 1905 or 1911, Qualibat 8731), firms holding “RGE offre globale” certification, architects registered with the Ordre (professional body) and trained, or certified property surveyors (diagnostiqueurs immobiliers) who have completed specific audit training.

When? The seller or their representative gives it to the buyer at the first viewing, on paper or electronically. It is then included in the dossier de diagnostic technique (technical survey file) attached to the preliminary contract or, failing that, to the acte authentique (notarised deed of sale) (art. L271-4 of the Construction and Housing Code, cited by ecologie.gouv.fr).

How long is it valid? 5 years.

Does the audit require works to be carried out?

No. The audit is information for the buyer: it sets out scenarios and their cost so that a purchase-and-renovation project can be built, financed if need be by a combined loan (ecologie.gouv.fr). Neither the seller nor the buyer is required to carry out the proposed works. However, a buyer who later wants to apply for MaPrimeRénov’ (the state renovation grant) for a major renovation will have to produce an audit before and after the works.

Which professional to consult

The diagnostiqueur (property surveyor) carries out the DPE and, if certified and trained for it, the energy audit of a house. The agent immobilier (estate agent) must hand over the audit at the first viewing when instructed to sell. The notaire (notary) checks that the audit is in the technical survey file attached to the preliminary contract and the deed. If the audit points to major works, the courtier en crédit (mortgage broker) can cost a combined purchase-and-renovation loan.