Funding a renovation: the renovation advance loan and grant simulators

The cost of a renovation often gives owners pause, especially retired owners or those on modest incomes. Several options make it possible not to pay everything at once, including a loan that is only repaid when the house is sold.

The renovation advance loan

This is a loan secured by a mortgage on the home. The capital is only repaid when the house is sold or when the estate is settled. Depending on the option chosen, the interest is paid monthly or added to the capital.

Its zero-interest version, the “prêt avance rénovation +” or PAR+, is reserved for households with “modest” and “very modest” incomes as defined by the Anah (the national housing agency) scale. The State covers the interest for the first ten years; after that, the rate set by the bank at signature applies. The main conditions:

• be an owner-occupier of a main residence built more than two years ago;
• have the work carried out by RGE-certified contractors;
• not convert the home into a holiday let, a second home or business premises while the loan is running, or it must be repaid;
• stay within the ceilings:

It is aimed above all at owners who have assets but limited borrowing capacity, for example in retirement. Few lenders offer it: ask your bank, or ask a France Rénov' adviser which ones offer it near you.

Other options to combine

• MaPrimeRénov': a State grant, depending on income and the type of work.
• Energy saving certificates (energy bonuses), paid by energy suppliers.
• The zero-interest eco-loan, interest-free, up to €50,000 for a whole-house renovation, repayable over 20 years at most (15 years for individual measures), available until 31 December 2027. It can be combined with the PAR+ provided they fund different types of work.
• VAT at 5.5% on energy renovation work, applied directly on the invoice by the contractor.
• Local grants from the region, the département or the municipality, which vary from area to area.

These figures illustrate how it works: actual amounts depend on the quotes, the scale in force at the time of the application and local grants.

The official simulators

The public renovation service offers a simulator on france-renov.gouv.fr that lists the grants available for your situation. It is a good first step, but the amounts depend on the exact project and the rules in force at the time of the application: a France Rénov' adviser confirms the financing plan free of charge.

The steps in the right order

1. A free appointment with a France Rénov' adviser, who checks your income category and the grants available.
2. The energy audit and detailed quotes from RGE-certified contractors.
3. Submitting the grant applications, before signing the quotes.
4. Applying to the bank for the loan, with the quotes and the grant notification.
5. The work, then sending in the invoices for payment of the grants.

Pitfalls to avoid

• Signing a quote before submitting the grant applications.
• Choosing the work according to the grant rather than the needs of the house.
• Trusting a company that promises over the phone to “cover everything”.
• Forgetting the long-term cost of a standard renovation advance loan: when the interest is added to the capital, the sum due on sale or on inheritance grows every year.

How we help you

We draw up detailed quotes item by item, usable for grant and loan applications, and a work schedule compatible with the formalities. Our online estimation tool gives an initial idea of the cost of a whole-house renovation.

Sources : Code de la consommation, articles L. 315-1 et suivants (prêt viager hypothécaire, dont relève le prêt avance rénovation) · Décret n° 2024-887 du 3 septembre 2024 et arrêté du 3 septembre 2024 (prêt avance rénovation à taux zéro, PAR+) · Code général des impôts, article 244 quater U (éco-prêt à taux zéro, ouvert jusqu’au 31 décembre 2027) · Code général des impôts, article 278-0 bis A (TVA à 5,5 % pour la rénovation énergétique) · Anah et France Rénov’, « MaPrimeRénov’, le mode d’emploi », septembre 2026 (taux et plafonds de la rénovation d’ampleur) · service-public.gouv.fr, prêt avance rénovation à taux zéro · service-public.gouv.fr, éco-prêt à taux zéro · france-renov.gouv.fr