DPE: G-rated property can be rented out ? | Garantme

A G rating on the DPE ( Diagnostic de Performance Energétique ) means that your rental property is automatically considered a heat sink. In other words, it's an energy guzzler. Poorly insulated, the property consumes a lot of energy, resulting in a lack of comfort and high heating costs (in winter) for the tenant.

When the Climate & Resilience Act was passed in 2021, it was planned to ban the rental of G-rated housing from January 1, 2025. But is this really the case? Is it still possible to rent out your property? What are the risks? And above all, how can you ensure the sustainability of your rental investment?

Renting out a G-rated property: what will happen in 2025?

In 2025, will it still be possible to rent out an apartment or house with a G rating on the DPE? We take a look at the theoretical deadlines of the Climate & Resilience Act, as well as the April 1, 2025 bill adopted by the Senate!

Theoretical rental ban under the Climat & Resilience Act

The Climat & Resilience law, enacted in August 2021, planned to progressively ban the most energy-intensive housing from rental.

The aim at the time was to reduce the environmental impact of the building sector, which alone accounts for 25% of CO₂ emissions in France, but also to combat thermal flats and rental indecency. Indeed, energy performance is now considered a criterion of decency for renting a dwelling, whether empty or furnished, as a principal residence in mainland France.

With the adoption of this law, landlords no longer had a choice. They had to undertake work to improve their property's energy performance, in order to achieve a better DPE rating and continue to rent legally.

Here's a reminder of the deadlines.

• August 2022: rent freeze for F- and G-rated properties.
• January 1, 2023: ban on renting a property with a final energy consumption of over 450 kWh/m²/year (equivalent to a G rating on the DPE), applicable to new leases.
• January 1, 2025: total ban on renting out G-rated properties (new leases, lease renewals and tacit renewals).

Landlords who failed to comply with these obligations were subject to the following sanctions:

• Cancellation of the lease if the tenant decides to take legal action;
• Fine and obligation to comply.

More flexibility for homes undergoing energy-efficiency renovations

Against all expectations, there was a rebound on 1ᵉʳ April 2025 with a Senate bill allowing landlords to continue renting out their G-rated DPE dwellings.

This willingness to relax follows landlords' concerns about the high cost of energy renovation work, while also providing a solution to the housing crisis France is currently experiencing. Indeed, with rental demand so tight, it's hard toban G-rated homes when so many tenants are struggling to find a place to live.

However, the aim is not to sweep aside the fight against thermal flaws.

Under the proposed law, the owner of a G-rated property would be able to continue renting out his or her property as long as he or she undertakes energy-efficiency renovation work:

• Condominiums would benefit from a 5-year deferral;
• Owners of single-family homes would get a 3-year reprieve.

However, there are two other points to note:

• Owners could be exempted from carrying out work if the cost is disproportionate to the value of the property;
• A tenant of a G-rated property can only claim a rent reduction based on the extra cost of heating.

What rights do G-rated tenants have?

As a landlord, you should expect your tenant to ask for a reduction in rent if you rent G-rated accommodation.

But with the Senate's reform, the rules are more advantageous for the landlord.

• If the G-rated property can be rented out (for example, if it is impossible to carry out energy-efficiency renovation work in the condominium), the tenant cannot request a reduction in the rent.
• If a property rated G on the DPE is being improperly rented out, but the landlord can prove that he is planning to carry out energy-efficiency renovations, the tenant can request a reduction in the rent, even if this will be limited (additional heating costs between an F and G property).

What energy-efficiency renovations can be carried out to improve the DPE rating of your rental property?

Even if your property is a heat sink, you can continue to rent it out in 2025, provided youundertake energy renovation work. As the cost of such work can be very high, it's essential to prioritize actions that will rapidly improve your property's energy performance rating. These include

• thermal insulation: by insulating the attic space, which is responsible for 30% of heat loss, you should improve the building's performance (also consider insulating the walls and lower floors);
• installing double- or triple-glazed windows to limit energy loss in your rental apartment or house;
• installing an efficient heating system such as a heat pump;
• improving ventilation to reduce humidity levels, which cause tenants to heat more, thus increasing their energy consumption.

Thanks to these energy-efficiency renovations, your rental investment will last.

• You'll be able to continue renting your property for years to come.
• You'll attract tenants looking for an energy-efficient property.
• You'll be able to sell your property more easily by making it more efficient.

Of course, all these actions to obtain a better energy performance diagnosis come at a high cost. Find out about financing schemes to help you reduce the bill and speed up the compliance of your rental property.