::Le Mag Group:: Going Green: why finding a builder, plumber, window fitter or insulation specialist is about to get harder...

Going Green: why finding a builder, plumber, window fitter or insulation specialist is about to get harder..., Oct 04

So, we’re somewhat in the doldrums when it comes to property sales, it’s a buyers’ market and many potential vendors are choosing to wait until things pick-up a bit before putting their house on the market; sure, the best presented and well located homes still attract interest and there’s a good number of fresh people coming to live in the area, however many houses just aren’t shifting…
Traditionally in such times (particularly in more mature housing markets), home owners will turn to adding value to their current house rather than swapping it for something ‘bigger and better’; using the opportunity to put on an extension, redecorate, upgrade dated kitchens/bathrooms and/or generally make the home more appealing so that it stands out from the crowd when economic conditions improve. One such set of improvements that are particularly relevant in this day and age are those related to improving the environmental efficiency of a home. The impact a property has on the environment and its associated running costs are becoming increasingly pertinent to its appeal in the housing market, however such work is often not considered to be as ‘sexy’ or valuable as installing a new roll top bath plus walk-in shower or having the latest IKEA kitchen fitted. However, as of 1st January 2009 that’s all about to change here in France with the introduction of the “Eco PTZ”…
“The what?” I hear you ask; well this is the “prêt à taux zéro écologique” or, in other words, an interest free loan from the Government to assist homeowners reduce their property’s carbon footprint. The loan will be available to all permanent French residents, irrespective of personal wealth, and will allow for a maximum borrowing limit of 300€ per square meter of property, capped at 30,000€. These monies are not designed to simply pay for the replacement of insulation in the attic but, rather, to make a lasting impact on a property’s contribution to the environment. For example, a project consisting new roof, replacement windows and a more efficient central heating system that will work together to make the house more efficient would better qualify.
The reasons for this gesture couldn’t be clearer, property is one of the biggest consumers of energy in France with around 42.5% of the total while it is also a major contributor to greenhouse gases, kicking out 123 million tons of CO2 per annum, that is to say 23% of national emissions. The French Government (along with other EU States) has made a commitment to reduce said emissions by 75% and this interest-free loan is one of a series of initiatives designed to do just that. Expected to last for 5 years (to 2014) at a cost of 1 billion Euros, the project is certainly grandiose and, if correctly taken advantage of, capable of making a marked difference. Unfortunately the éco PTZ cannot be used in conjunction with the tax credit made by the State to those who install new energy-saving devices such as solar panels or wind turbines; any monies already paid for such things will be discounted from what you are eligible to borrow at 0% interest. By way of compensation, the éco PTZ will be available to new home buyers in the form of an interest free loan of up to 20,000€ offered to those that purchase a new house which meets the designation of a ‘low energy consumption’ property.
As if it wasn’t already hard enough to find a plumber or builder when you need one they are soon to become a whole lot busier! Good news then for those that are registered in those professions and good news for those that are considering making improvements to their property in the coming years. Good news too for the property market overall, having homeowners add value to their houses (at negligible cost to themselves) while at the same time reducing their carbon footprint seems to be a win:win situation.
When markets get tough, the tough get improving – bear in mind that well presented homes are still in demand and that only those properties which are desirable and correctly valued are selling. We are witnessing a constant in-road of foreign buyers, wishing to come and live in the south of France; they are however well aware of the power they wield in their negotiations and as such tend to drive hard bargains. RHF International boasts a large number of buyers on our books, most of whom have very specific requirements and are willing to wait for the right property to come along. If you are looking to buy or sell a home in the Languedoc-Roussillon region then please feel free to contact us for professional and honest assistance to achieve your goals.
James Edgecombe, Riviera Home Finders