Individual heating metering in France: who must comply

Which buildings are affected?

Article L174-2 covers any residential or mixed-use block with a central heating installation. The same rule applies to cooling for buildings with a central cooling installation. The costs charged to occupants then include, in addition to fixed costs, the cost of the heat or cooling measured for each home.

The service-public.gouv.fr information sheet (F14745) deals with co-ownership, but the law also covers a building belonging to a single owner: it is then the owner who makes sure the installations are in place (art. L174-2). Article R174-1 also covers buildings supplied by a réseau de chaleur (district heating network).

Meters or allocators: which device?

The law sets an order of priority (art. L174-2; F14745):

1. Individual heat meters, fitted where the supply enters the home. They measure actual heating consumption.
2. Heat cost allocators, fitted on each radiator, where meters are neither cost-effective nor technically possible. They measure the temperature difference between the radiator and the room.
3. Other methods that are cost-effective, if allocators themselves are impossible or not cost-effective.

Thermostatic valves. Before the devices are fitted, radiators must be equipped, where technically possible, with temperature controls, in particular thermostatic radiator valves (art. R174-5). These are paid for by each owner (F14745).

Remote reading. Devices installed since 25 October 2020 can be read remotely. From 1 January 2027, all devices must be, including those fitted before that date (art. R174-7; F14745).

Exemptions: the 80 kWh/m²/year threshold and technical impossibility

The obligation does not apply (art. R174-3; F14745):

• to logements-foyers;
• in cases of technical impossibility set by ministerial order: for example underfloor slab heating with no possible per-home measurement, single-pipe series distribution, non-reversible warm air, steam emitters, fan-coil units without an individual loop;
• in cases of excessive cost compared with the expected savings;
• to buildings whose heating consumption is below 80 kWh/m²/year.

This threshold is set by the order of 6 September 2019, which relates it to the living area. The reference consumption is the average of the last three years, excluding domestic hot water, divided by the living area (order of 6 September 2019, art. 3).

In cases of technical impossibility or excessive cost, the syndic draws up a justification note. It specifies the alternative method chosen to estimate each home’s consumption (F14745).

The general meeting vote and the bill

The vote. In a co-ownership, the syndic puts the installation of the devices and the choice of supplier on the agenda, with quotes (F14745). Installing heat meters or heat cost allocators is voted by the article 25 majority, i.e. of the votes of all co-owners (loi (Act) of 10 July 1965, art. 25, l). Installation costs are charges communes (shared service charges) (F14745). See our guide on the assemblée générale de copropriété (owners’ general meeting).

The split. Fuel or energy costs are divided into two parts. The shared costs are obtained by multiplying total expenditure by a “coefficient equal to 0.30” (our translation) (art. R174-10). The remainder is divided according to each home’s readings. Maintenance costs for the communal boiler may be added to the individual bill (F14745).

Informing occupants. Since 1 January 2022, where the devices can be read remotely, the estimate of the home’s heat and cooling consumption has been sent every month (art. R174-12; F14745). An annual statement also details consumption of heat, cooling and domestic hot water.

For tenants, communal heating is one of the charges récupérables (service charges recoverable from the tenant); see also charges de copropriété (co-ownership service charges).

Checks and penalties

At the authorities’ request, the owner or the syndicat must send, within 1 month, the documents proving compliance with the obligation, or justifying an exemption (art. L185-2; F14745). In the event of a breach, the administrative authority serves formal notice to comply within the period it sets (art. L185-3).

If there is no reply within the month, or no compliance within the period set, a financial penalty may be imposed, per building. It may not exceed €1,500 per home and may be applied every year until compliance (art. L185-4).

Which professional to consult

A diagnostiqueur (property surveyor) who draws up the DPE (energy performance rating) for the building or the home provides information on its energy consumption. Before buying in a building with communal heating, the agent immobilier (estate agent) can obtain the minutes of general meetings for you, so you can check whether individual metering has been voted.