DPE Energy Certificate for French Meuble de Tourisme 2026: Mandatory, Classes and How to Get One

The Diagnostic de Performance Energetique (DPE), or Energy Performance Certificate, has become a mandatory document for any French meuble de tourisme advertised on Airbnb, Booking.com or any other platform. Introduced under the Loi Climat et Resilience (Law no. 2021-1104 of 22 August 2021), the DPE requirement now applies to short-term furnished rentals in addition to long-term residential lettings. For foreign non-resident owners, obtaining a DPE remotely requires specific organisation.

What Is the DPE and Why It Matters for Meuble de Tourisme

The DPE is an official energy audit carried out by an accredited diagnostician. It assigns the property two ratings on a scale of A to G: one for energy consumption (in kWh per square metre per year) and one for greenhouse gas emissions (in kg CO2 equivalent per square metre per year). The ratings appear as coloured letter bands, with A being the most efficient and G the least.

Under the Loi Climat et Resilience, meuble de tourisme listings must display the DPE rating on all advertising materials, including online platform listings. Platforms are required to display the rating automatically once the host enters the DPE certificate reference number in their listing. Airbnb France and Booking.com both enforce this requirement as of 2024.

DPE Class	Energy Consumption (kWh/m2/year)	Rental Status (STR)
A	Less than 70	Fully compliant
B	70-110	Fully compliant
C	111-180	Fully compliant
D	181-250	Fully compliant
E	251-330	Compliant in 2026, restrictions from 2028
F	331-420	Banned from new long-term lettings (STR under review)
G	More than 420	Banned from new long-term lettings (STR under review)

Upcoming Rental Bans for Low-Rated Properties

The Loi Climat et Resilience introduced a phased timeline for banning the rental of energy-inefficient properties. The schedule is as follows:

• From 1 January 2025: properties rated G+ (consumption above 450 kWh/m2/year) are banned from new long-term residential lettings. The ban on short-term tourist lettings for G+ properties is under review by the Conseil d'Etat.
• From 1 January 2028: all class G properties will be banned from new lettings (both long-term and, under proposed regulations, short-term tourist rentals).
• From 1 January 2034: class F properties will be banned.
• From 1 January 2038: class E properties will be banned (long-term residential; STR implications to be confirmed by decree).

Foreign owners of meuble de tourisme properties should urgently obtain a DPE if they do not already have one, and plan energy renovation works if the property is rated E, F or G.

How to Get a DPE: The Process for Foreign Non-Resident Owners

The DPE must be carried out by a certified diagnostician (diagnostiqueur immobilier) accredited by a body recognised by the French accreditation authority COFRAC. The diagnostician must physically visit the property to take measurements, assess insulation, heating systems, windows and ventilation.

For non-resident owners who cannot be present at the property, the process works as follows:

1. Choose a local property manager (gestionnaire): appoint a local property manager, conciergerie or trusted agent in the town where the property is located. This person will grant access to the diagnostician.
2. Find an accredited diagnostician: search the national directory of certified diagnosticians on the official French government portal (faire.gouv.fr or renouvaux.fr). You can search by postcode and filter by specialisation.
3. Provide technical documents remotely: the diagnostician will need plans of the property, details of heating systems, insulation certificates (if available), year of construction and surface area. These can be sent by email.
4. Schedule the visit: the visit takes 1 to 2 hours for a standard apartment. The owner does not need to be present if access is granted by the property manager.
5. Receive the DPE certificate: the completed DPE is transmitted electronically by the diagnostician, registered in the ADEME national registry, and the certificate number is emailed to the owner. The certificate is valid for 10 years.

Cost of the DPE in 2026

The DPE is not a regulated-price service: the fee is set freely by the diagnostician. In 2026, indicative prices by property size are as follows:

• Studio or one-bedroom apartment (under 35 m2): 100 to 150 EUR
• Two or three bedroom apartment (35-80 m2): 130 to 200 EUR
• Large apartment or house (over 80 m2): 170 to 280 EUR
• Rural property or holiday home (over 150 m2): 200 to 350 EUR

The DPE is a tax-deductible expense under the real BIC regime (regime reel). Under the micro-BIC regime, it is covered by the flat-rate allowance and cannot be deducted separately. Keep the invoice and the DPE certificate reference number for your records.

Penalties for Non-Display of the DPE

Failing to display the DPE rating on a meuble de tourisme listing is an administrative infringement with the following consequences:

• Under the Loi Climat et Resilience, advertisers (including platforms) who fail to display the DPE rating may be subject to an administrative fine. Platforms are jointly liable with hosts for non-compliant listings.
• Airbnb France and Booking.com may suspend or delist properties without a valid DPE reference number in communes where the requirement is actively enforced.
• The DGCCRF (Direction Generale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Repression des Fraudes) has conducted inspections of platform listings since 2023 and issued formal notices to platforms for non-compliant properties.

DPE and the Classement Etoiles: Is There a Link?

The DPE rating is separate from the voluntary star classification (classement) issued by Atout France for meubles de tourisme. However, the two interact in important ways:

• The Atout France classement grid (used to award 1 to 5 stars) includes energy-related criteria (insulation quality, double glazing, etc.). A property with DPE class A or B will score higher in the classement and is more likely to achieve 4 or 5 stars.
• A 4 or 5 star classified meuble de tourisme benefits from a 71% micro-BIC allowance (versus 50% for unclassified). Investing in energy renovation to improve the DPE can therefore have a direct positive fiscal impact.
• From 2028, a G-rated meuble de tourisme will no longer be classifiable at any star level, under draft regulations being discussed in Parliament as of 2026.

Practical Tips for Remote Owners

If you own a meuble de tourisme in France but live abroad, here is how to stay compliant with DPE requirements without making unnecessary trips:

• Appoint a local property manager who can coordinate all diagnostic visits on your behalf. Most conciergerie services in French tourist cities offer this as part of their standard package.
• Store all property documents (floor plans, building permits, heating system certificates) in a shared digital folder accessible to your property manager and your accountant.
• Set a calendar reminder 6 months before the DPE expiry date (10 years from issue) to organise a renewal.
• If the property scores E, F or G, obtain at least one renovation quote from a qualified RGE (Reconnu Garant de l'Environnement) contractor. MaPrimeRenov state grants are available even to non-resident property owners.

For full guidance on compliance requirements for French meubles de tourisme as a foreign non-resident owner, visit HostReady.eu.