If you’re planning to sell or rent your property, it’s essential to check the validity of your energy performance diagnosis (DPE). Starting January 1, 2025, DPEs from January 1, 2018, to July 31, 2021, will be invalid due to changes in assessment methods aimed at ensuring more reliable energy evaluations. This shift impacts property values, as homes with low energy ratings face rental restrictions, increasing the urgency for owners to obtain updated DPEs.
Are you considering renting or selling your property? It’s crucial to check the date of your energy performance diagnosis (DPE). Starting January 1, 2025, DPEs conducted between January 1, 2018, and July 31, 2021, will become invalid. Property owners affected by this change will need to undertake a new DPE to proceed with selling or renting their homes in 2025. Let’s delve into the reasons behind this regulation.
The energy performance diagnosis (DPE) was introduced in 2006 as a means to evaluate the theoretical energy consumption of residential properties. Certified diagnosticians, appointed by the government, are responsible for issuing a label that ranges from A—indicating high energy efficiency—to G, which denotes the least efficient homes. While the DPE has faced criticism for its reliability, it remains a mandatory document in real estate transactions, with the energy class needing to be stated in property listings.
Understanding the New DPE Regulations
Typically, a DPE remains valid for ten years. However, significant changes to the calculation method were implemented in July 2021. Prior to this, DPE assessments could be based on the previous three years of energy bills. Now, diagnosticians are required to utilize the Conventional Consumption Calculation Method for Dwellings (3CL), which offers a more accurate assessment by focusing on the quality of a building’s insulation and employing standardized evaluation criteria.
Due to this shift in calculation methodology, the government has opted to shorten the validity of DPEs that were created under the old system. This change aims to ensure that all homes possess a reliable DPE, assessed with the 3CL method. Consequently, DPEs conducted between January 1, 2018, and July 31, 2021, will no longer hold validity in 2025.
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This regulatory shift could significantly impact property owners. If you opt to complete a new DPE soon, the score assigned to your home may vary considerably compared to the previous assessment conducted before 2021. This outcome is possible even if no energy renovation measures have been implemented, as the new calculation method factors in technical elements not previously considered.
In recent years, the energy class of a home has become increasingly important to prospective buyers. A low DPE rating can notably decrease property value due to the impending exclusion of energy inefficient homes from the rental market. According to the climate and resilience law, homes classified as G (the highest energy consumers) will face rental prohibitions starting January 1, 2025. Furthermore, properties rated F and E will be barred from the rental market by 2028 and 2034, respectively. However, there may be a potential delay for owners of energy inefficient homes, as Prime Minister Michel Barnier indicated during a recent policy speech that the timeline for energy performance assessments may be “adapted”, although specifics were not disclosed.