DPE guide
DPE rating when buying a house in France
The DPE, or diagnostic de performance energetique, is the French energy performance diagnosis. For a buyer, it is not just a letter. It is a prompt to ask about heating, insulation, comfort, future work and running costs.
What the DPE tells you
The DPE rates energy and climate performance from A to G. French government guidance says it forms part of the diagnostic file for sale or rental and must be available to prospective buyers or tenants when required.
- A or B usually suggests stronger energy performance.
- D or E may still be workable, but ask what drives the rating.
- F or G should trigger careful questions about winter comfort, cost and renovation.
Questions to ask at the viewing
- What is the DPE rating, and can I see the full report rather than just the letter?
- When was the DPE completed, and is it still valid for the sale process?
- What heating, insulation, windows or ventilation issues are pulling the score down?
- Are the estimated energy costs based on realistic use for year-round living?
- If the rating is low, has the seller obtained quotes or an energy audit?
Validity and 2026 calculation changes
Service-Public guidance says a seller generally provides a DPE established within 10 years, with older transitional DPEs from 1 January 2018 to 30 June 2021 no longer valid since 1 January 2025. From 1 January 2026, the electricity conversion factor used in DPE calculations changed from 2.3 to 1.9, which can affect some electrically heated homes.
Low DPE ratings and energy audit questions
For some low-rated homes, an energy audit may be required on sale. Service-Public guidance says the audit requirement applies to certain single-owner residential buildings classified F or G, and since 1 January 2025 also E, with D scheduled later. Treat this as a question for the agent and notaire, because the exact duty depends on the property type and sale context.
How to score DPE risk in the tool
- Use the heating score for heating type, service history and winter confidence.
- Use damp and structure scores for ventilation, insulation side effects and visible moisture.
- Add a renovation note if the DPE suggests insulation, heating or ventilation work.
- Save the report, then compare the DPE concerns against other houses.
Official sources to check
- Service-Public: DPE diagnostic immobilier
- Service-Public: DPE calculation change from 1 January 2026
- Service-Public: energy audit for low-rated properties
This page helps you organise viewing questions. It is not legal, financial, diagnostic or surveyor advice.