The following people may be approved :

• Natural persons
• Legal persons governed by private law, in one of the following forms: LLC, EURL, SAS or SASU
• Third-party financing businesses.

The following people may not be approved :

• Placed in a state of reorganization or judicial liquidation
• Definitively convicted of a crime or sentenced to at least 3 months' imprisonment without a suspended sentence for an offense related to one of the following grounds: fraud, breach of trust, concealment, money laundering, corruption, influence peddling, forgery, participation in a criminal association, drug trafficking, pimping, bankruptcy, tax fraud, etc.
• Who have not subscribed to their tax or social declarations or have not paid the taxes, contributions or social contributions due.

Any operator wishing to be approved must complete a condition of independence with regard to the execution of a work.

As such, the candidate must:

• Prove that he is not able to sign work contracts with the household
• Demonstrates the absence of a business contract binding him with a company of execution of a work.

The project management activities are compatible with these conditions of independence.

Jurisdiction Condition

Persons wishing to work as energy renovation advisors must meet one of the following conditions :

• To be architect
• Be the holder of the quality sign “RGE global offer” issued by a qualification body, intended for professionals trained and able to design global energy renovation offers
• Be a qualified energy auditor
• Be a local authority or a group of local authorities
• Be a Espace Conseil France Rénov'
• Have the quality of business of third-party financing (owned by at least 50% of public capital)
• Be an authorized operator of the National Housing Agency. This applies if this license allows the exercise of social, financial and technical engineering activities.
• Be a structure contributing to the implementation of a planned habitat improvement operation, or a general interest habitat improvement program.

Filing of the file with the National Habitat Agency

The applicant for approval shall use the approved forms made available by theAnah: titleContent for the preparation of the initial application files for approval:

The candidate guide can assist in the preparation of the application file:

Guide candidate accreditation platform “Mon Accompagnateur Rénov'”

France Rénov'

Pour en savoir plus

Learn more about the process: Become My Renovation Accompaniment

National Housing Agency (Anah)

Pour en savoir plus

Examination of the application and issue of the approval

THEAnah: titleContent or its local delegation examine the application for approval ensuring the validity of the following criteria:

• The file contains all the documents. The instructor service shall make a request for missing parts and, if necessary, for additional parts. It sets a deadline of one month for the delivery of these documents. Failure to provide the documents requested within the time limit shall result in the rejection of the request.
• The candidate may benefit from the approval.
• The file is compliant.
• The forward-looking activity program shall be consistent with the level of human resources deployed for the accompanying mission, and with the declared full-time or part-time accompanying activity.
• The scope of intervention declared is consistent with the territorial locations indicated and the level of human resources deployed for the accompanying mission.

THEAnah: titleContent or its local delegation may then grant approval. The decision granting the authorization shall state the following:

• Date of grant
• Duration of approval
• Territorial scope of intervention granted and referenced on the national information system
• Obligations of the energy renovation guide, including a reminder of the authorized subcontracting conditions and the obligation to use the wording “Mon Accompagnateur Rénov'” in the quotation, invoice, communication and prospecting documents
• Withdrawal of authorization incurred in the event of non-compliance with these obligations 
• Reminder to communicate to the National Housing Agency before March 31 of each calendar year, the activity report justifying in particular the respect of the conditions of independence of the escort
• The reminder to promote efficient and comprehensive renovations.

For an initial or renewal application, the approval is granted for a period of 5 years.

Approval shall be granted by express decision of the National Housing Agency for a maximum duration of 5 years renewable, in a deadline of 3 months from the date of submission of the file. The silence maintained by the Agency at the end of that period shall constitute an implied decision rejecting the application.

Approval is valid :

• On the national perimeter, for natural persons and the legal persons
• In the territorial jurisdiction of the local authority or group of local authorities, for third-party financing businesses.

In case of incomplete file, the National Housing Agency shall send the person concerned a request for additional documents. The time limit for examining the approval shall be suspended until the requested supplements have been received. The application for approval may be rejected in the event that a file remains incomplete after a 1^re request for supplements.

After examining the supporting documents, in the event of legitimate and persistent doubts about the capacity or independence of the operator, or if the submitted documents do not meet the requirements laid down by the applicable regulations, the National Housing Agency may refuse to grant approval.

The choice of a legal form (or legal status) of the company is a decisive step.

It determines how the company operates, but it also has implications for the tax system and social protection.

There are two main legal forms:

• - (EI) : allows to carry out its activity alone and in its own name. The Head of company and the one and the same person. Micro-company (or self-company) is one with a simplified tax and social regime.
• Business : allows to carry out an activity in a legal entity distinct from the Head of company. It has the legal personality, i.e. it has its own legal existence (share capital, company name, registered office, etc.).

These two modes of exercise each have their own specific rules:

To make the right choice, it is therefore essential to take into account many factors:

• the exercise of the activity alone or together with partners (in business)
• the tax system for the taxation of profits
• the social protection scheme in accordance with the envisaged legal form.

To help you choose the legal form that best suits your situation, Urssaf offers the following simulator:

Finding the right legal status (form) and comparing the cost of social contributions

Declare activity

The trader must register the company. This procedure must be carried out online on the website of the companies' Formalities Office:

Window of company formalities

The trader must apply for registration within one month of the declared start date of the activity and no later than 15 days after the start date of the activity. The effect of this formality is to give the company legal status.

This declaration makes it possible to inform all the organizations concerned by the launch of the activity (INSEE, social organizations, Urssaf, public finance center…).

As soon as the application for registration is accepted, INSEE allocates:

• A number Siren : it is a unique identification number of the 9-digit company 
• A number Siret : it's thegeographical identifier of each institution from the company, it is therefore possible to have several. This number consists of the Siren and a NIC (Internal Ranking Number).

When registering the company, INSEE also assigns the professional its code EPA: titleContent.

When the professional's spouse decides to work in the company, he must provide a sworn certificate specifying his status in the company:

Declaration of non-conviction

When registering his activity, the trader must provide a declaration on honor of non-conviction.

By this declaration, he attests that he has not been the subject of any criminal, civil or administrative sanction prohibiting him from setting up and managing a company.

One template declaration of non-conviction and parentage is available:

Declaration of non-conviction and filiation for registration in the Trade and Companies Register (RCS) and the National Register of companies (RNE)

Contributions called by theUrssaf: titleContent depend on the structure of the business and the legal status of the manager.

To know all the rules concerning the social system of the manager, it is possible to consult the sheet relating to the Social protection of the business manager.

The trader who carries out his activity in his own name ({circumflex over (X)}) or as majority manager of a business (such as a EURL or a SARL), is affiliated to the Social security for self-employed persons (SSI), the compulsory scheme for self-employed persons.

The professional must pay social contributions to the Urssaf from the beginning of his activity.

However, in practice, no contributions or social contributions are required during the first 90 days which follow the launch of its activity.

Since the income is not yet known at the start of the activity, the contributions are first calculated on a flat-rate basis for the first 2 years (at the same rates as those applicable during the course of business). They are then adjusted and regularized according to the actual revenues of the fiscal year.

Contributions must be paid online in one of the following ways:

• Either every month : payment is made on the 5th or 20th of each month, by direct debit.
• Either every quarter : payment is made by direct debit, telepayment or credit card on 5 February, 5 May, 5 August and 5 November.

When he carries out his activity within the framework of a business and holds management functions that give him the status of employee assimilated (president or paid CEO of SAS for example), the professional reports to the general social security system.

His social security contributions are identical to those of an executive employee, and he enjoys equivalent social protection, with the exception of unemployment insurance (optional unemployment insurance is however possible).

The accompanying service must comply with the following conditions :

• The service is provided by an approved energy renovation coach.
• The subcontracting of accompanying services is prohibited, except:
  
  • The subcontracting of the entire service entrusted to another approved energy renovation supervisor
  • From the energy audit
  • Enhanced delivery.
• The cumulation of subcontracts is prohibited, with the exception of enhanced services. The subcontractor performing the service cannot entrust it to another subcontractor.
• The accompanying service is the subject of a contract or agreement concluded between the household and the authorized accompanying person, in which at least the services and their cost are specified. This contract or agreement may specify the situations for which enhanced support is triggered and its additional cost. Any optional service performed in addition to the services must be mentioned in the contract or in the agreement. The contract or agreement shall mention the services performed by subcontracting and the identity of the subcontractor(s).
• The service is the subject of an accompanying report.
• The contract or agreement of employment and the accompanying report are communicated to the National Housing Agency by the authorized escort or by the household, respectively at the time of submission of the grant application and the balance.

A model document concerning the declaration of subcontractors shall be made available by Anah:

Mon Accompagnateur Rénov': Conditions for carrying out all activities

FYI  

A guide to energy renovation for professionals is also provided by Anah:

Guide to energy renovation for professionals - Eligible and induced works, quotes and invoices

National Housing Agency (Anah)

Pour en savoir plus

Mandatory benefits

The accompaniment must include the following:

• Assessment of the housing and household situation
• Energy audit or the presentation of an existing energy audit. In the overseas departments and territories, the energy audit is replaced by an energy assessment that meets one of the reference frameworks existing in these territories.
• Preparation and support for the realization of the work project.

The work recommended as part of the support must comply with the recommendations of the energy audit and, at a minimum, improve the classification of the building with regard to its energy and environmental performance.

This accompaniment includes the mandatory benefits following:

1. A preliminary information phase comprising an initial visit
2. An initial diagnosis of the household situation carried out on site
3. The performance or use of an energy audit. In the Drom: titleContent, this audit shall be replaced by an energy assessment.
4. An on-site review of the housing condition
5. Advice and information on the following steps: preparation of the work project, then completion of the work project, then taking charge of the housing after work.
6. The production of an accompanying report submitted and countersigned by the household.

1. Prior information phase

The advance information phase includes a initial visit which is composed of the following:

• Information on the progress of the support until the conclusion of the contract or agreement, its cost
• Information on the aid that may be granted to finance the work and support, the conditions and procedures for granting the aid. The accompanying person shall ensure that the household does not sign a quote before:
  
  • For advising him on the analysis of work quotes
  • The submission of applications for public or private financial aid.
• The obligations of the household as owner, the deadlines and city planning authorizations to start the work.

2. Diagnosis of the initial situation of the household

The diagnosis of initial situation on-site cleaning takes into account the 1^è analysis carried out by the information, advice and support points, where there is one. This diagnosis consists of the following elements:

• An assessment of the applicant's detailed economic situation, its financing capacity and its eligibility for the different types of aid.
• For modest and very modest households, advice on combating energy poverty.

3. Conducting or using an energy audit (or energy assessment)

Energy audit (Metropolitan France)

In metropolitan France, the energy renovation advisor must carry out or use a energy audit, meeting the conditions relating to works and services for which expenditure is eligible for the energy transition premium. This energy audit must be carried out by a qualified auditor.

The authorized accompanying person may use an existing audit, carried out by a qualified auditor.

Energy Assessment (Metropolitan France)

In the Drom: titleContent, energy assessment replaces energy audit and includes recommendations for:

• Installation of solar protection for roofs, walls and bays
• Improvement of the porosity of the facades with a view to promoting a flow-through operation of the housing, in a natural manner
• Improving air speed by high aerodynamic and energy efficiency air brewers
• Energy systems for air conditioning and domestic hot water, and VMC: titleContent when there is air conditioning
• Heating and ventilation systems for the Hauts de La Réunion
• Piloting Solutions
• Internal inputs, their power levels and their management mode.

The energy assessment includes at least 2 renovation scenarios, enabling an optimal level of energy performance to be achieved in one or more steps for the dwelling in question, depending on the assessment of the sources of energy savings and the return on investment time specific to each of the targeted renovation measures.

For each stage of the work scenarios, the energy assessment shall specify the following:

• State of play
• Assessment of the annual final and primary energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions of the building before and after works for each of the following energy uses: cooling, domestic hot water production, ventilation and lighting, and other internal inputs
• Share of heating can be calculated for the upper reaches of Réunion (area above 600 m altitude)
• Estimated energy savings in kWh, then in euros compared to the modeled reference situation, as well as the estimated cost of the detailed works per action and the financial aid available
• Quantitative evaluation (or qualitative when there is no methodology) of thermal comfort by an evaluation of the quality of the envelope in terms of sun protection, air renewal rate and the impact of internal inputs
• For each type of work proposed, the minimum performance criteria for the equipment, materials or appliances necessary for the companies to carry out the work
• Existence of public aid for energy performance improvement works.

The energy assessment must be carried out by a professional approved by theAnah: titleContent.

4. On-site housing condition review

Examination of the housing condition

THEreview of housing condition carried out on site includes:

• An assessment of the housing situation of indignity, indecency and danger. The authorized escort shall use the simplified analysis grid made available by the National Housing Agency.
• A simplified assessment of the loss of household autonomy. The certified guide uses the simplified analysis grid made available by the National Housing Agency. In the event of a manifest situation of non-adaptation to a loss of autonomy, the authorized escort directs the household to the competent actors.

Manifest situation of unworthy habitat, indecency, non-adaptation to a loss of autonomy

In case of manifest situation of unworthy habitat, indecency, non-adaptation to a loss of autonomy identified as a result of the diagnoses carried out, or inadequate resources and living conditions of the household identified, the authorized escort:

• Reports the situations encountered to the National Housing Agency and information, advice and support desks
• Performs the above-mentioned enhanced services in Annex II of an order available on Legifrance. The authorized escort informs the National Housing Agency and the counter of his willingness to continue the enhanced services on his own or by subcontracting, or of his willingness to disengage from the support at the same time as the report.

5. Household advice and information

Preparation of the work project

Under the preparation of the work project, the accompanying person shall provide:

• The return of the energy audit (or energy assessment) and the provision of advice to the household to select one of the work scenarios recommended in the audit
• The provision by the guide of the list of qualified professionals to carry out the relevant energy renovation works, accessible on the national information system, and located near the place of accommodation subject to the support. It also provides advice for research and obtaining work quotes
• Advice on the analysis of the work specifications in terms of their compatibility with the chosen work scenario and their price, as well as information on the possibility of project management, with assistance in finding a project manager and in awarding the project management contract, at the request of the household.
• Information on the mandatory city planning procedures to carry out the work program, as well as damage insurance
• The implementation of a project financing plan that identifies the various financial aids that can be mobilized, in particular the following elements:
  
  • Aid from the National Housing Agency
  • Aid proposed by the players in the energy saving certificate scheme
  • Aid from local and regional authorities and their associations
  • Advance systems
  • Stay charged.
    The financing plan shall be supplemented by information on the financing of the remaining liabilities, which shall include the zero-interest loan, the zero-interest eco-loan and the renovation advance loan. In the event that the household has not wished to provide detailed information on its economic situation, the implementation of the financing plan is carried out according to the financial profile of the household and the aid it wishes to use.
• Information and advice on submitting applications for public and private financial aid identified in the financing plan, in particular to the National Housing Agency, local authorities and their associations, and the players in the energy saving certificate system. This advice includes support for obtaining the work certificates necessary to benefit from the energy transition premium, as well as help with understanding online procedures and assistance with the use of digital platforms for submitting aid or, failing that, with the preparation of paper files, until the grant is notified.
• The description of the work project selected by the household.

Completion of the work project

Under the completion of the work project, the accompanying person shall provide:

• Information on the different phases of a renovation project until the reception of the work
• Advice on the follow-up of a construction site, in particular on the coordination of the intervening companies in order to ensure the proper implementation of the project of work and the resolution of any technical difficulties observed during the installation of the material by the companies of construction
• Assistance in the reception of works through the delivery of receipt forms
• Updating the project funding plan
• Where the work carried out differs from the work recommended, the energy audit shall be updated on the basis of the work actually carried out.

Taking charge of the housing after work

Under the taking charge of the housing after work, the accompanying person shall provide:

• An on-site visit at the end of the service containing information on the reconciliation of invoices and the project of work with the estimate, possible recourse in case of persistence of quality defects, awareness on the proper use of the settled equipment and the renovated housing.
• Information on the proper use of the housing, including indoor air quality, the use and maintenance of heating, ventilation and control equipment, summer comfort, eco-gestures and sobriety of uses
• Support for the creation or updating of the housing information booklet.

6. Preparation of an accompanying report

The benefit is subject to a accompanying report delivered and countersigned by the household containing:

• Date of initial and final site visits
• Household identification information (name, address of the dwelling, number of the request for assistance for work)
• Optional services performed
• The invoice for the accompanying service, if there is one
• In the event of recourse to subcontracting, the nature of the subcontracted services and the identity of the subcontractor(s)
• An attestation, on the basis of the invoices submitted, of the concordance between the work carried out and the work projects.

The delivery of the end-of-service report to the household closes the accompanying service.

The accompaniment may include optional benefits carried out at the request or with the consent of the household, including in particular:

• Air tightness test and ventilation control of the housing carried out at the end of the construction site
• Loan of measurement tools (thermal camera, measurement of ventilation flow rates, etc.) and explanations of their operation
• One or more additional visits at the different stages of the support, in particular to apprehend the project of works and restore the energy audit
• Mandate as financial agent for obtaining national, local or regulated loans if the accompanying person also benefits from the status of intermediary in banking operations and payment services
• A mission of administrative agent to assist the household in its procedures
• Advice for the realization of the work carried out in accompanied self-renovation, understood as proposals for scenarios where the work is not undertaken only by one or more professionals proposed by the guide, but with the involvement of the owner-occupier or lessor households. These households will then have to be accompanied by professionals (craftsmen, socio-technical workers, etc.) according to the appropriate legal and insurance regime.
• A follow-up of post-work energy consumption after the construction site.

The Authorized operators submit an annual activity report to the National Housing Agency (Anah) justifying in particular compliance with the conditions of independence.

The activity report justifying compliance with the conditions of independence shall be transmitted before 31 March of each calendar year by the authorized escort at theAnah: titleContent or its delegation located within the jurisdiction of its registered office, and shall contain in particular the following elements:

• Update of the number of people dedicated full-time or part-time to the accompanying mission
• Updating of the qualifications of the approved supervisor (training carried out and follow-up of the training plan declared at the time of the application for approval, signs of qualities obtained)
• Activity forecast for the coming year, including the estimated share of outsourced support and the nature of outsourced services
• Full list of accompaniments carried out for the previous year, identifying the accompaniments including a subcontracting part and specifying the identity of the subcontractors concerned. The list specifies current accompaniments and abandoned accompaniments
• Discounted capital structure
• Possible changes in structure, organization chart, recruitment, etc.

Framework of controls

THEAnah: titleContent may control or have controlled, on the spot and on the spot, in accordance with a multiannual program drawn up by the Commission, any holder of an authorization. The objective of these checks is to verify the existence and quality of the support provided throughout the service, as well as the operator's continued compliance with the rules and principles to which the authorization was subject.

They shall be available of the National Housing Agency any document drawn up during the accompanying service for a period of 5 years.

The authorized escort is notified in advance the performance of an on-the-spot check on the applicant and gives his/her consent. Failure to reply within 2 months or refusal of such reply shall lead to the procedure for withdrawal of authorization being implemented. The impediment to the performance of the inspection both on the basis of documents and on the spot constitutes a ground for non-compliance with the commitments relating to the granting of authorization, leading to its definitive withdrawal.

At the end of the check, and in the event of a finding of non-compliance with the commitments entered into, a report describing the findings shall be drawn up and signed by the official who carried out the check, containing corrective measures. These may include guidance to better promote efficient renovations. The beneficiary of the authorization may then submit its written observations within one month.

Quality control of accompaniments

Controls include a monitoring the provision of support services, referred to as ‘quality control of accompaniments’, carried out by theAnah: titleContent or its local delegation.

This check shall be carried out at the time of the application for the commitment or the balance of the grant for works. The Controller Service shall examine:

• The contract or agreement, which must be complete and compliant
• The accompanying report during a balance check
• This inspection may also be carried out on the spot, in the accommodation which is the subject of the accompanying mission. The authorized accompanying person and the accompanied household shall make available to the inspector all the documents relating to the accompanying services provided.
• Documents submitted in the context of applications for aid for works.

Control of the structure benefiting from authorization

Controls may also include a control of the structure receiving authorization produced by theAnah: titleContent or its local delegation, to ensure that:

• Validity of the conditions of approval
• Validity of the documents submitted during the examination of the application for authorization
• Consistency and veracity of the annual reports and commitments made by the approved structure.

The inspection of the structure to which approval has been granted may be carried out on the basis of documents or on the spot:

• On the basis of the examination of the documents provided when the application for approval was submitted and the activity report. The National Housing Agency may request the beneficiary of the authorization by any means any evidence.
• On-site, at the registered office and in the regional offices of the authorized escort. All the documents necessary for carrying out the check, in particular the documents transmitted when the application for authorization was submitted, the activity reports and the documents justifying compliance with the conditions essential for the exercise of the activity of accompanying person, shall be made available to the controller.

Amendment of the approval

The authorized escort must inform theAnah: titleContent or its local delegation of any significant changes concerning its situation, in particular:

• Change of address
• Change of name
• Change of staff performing accompaniments
• Change in the structure of its capital
• Loss and acquisition of new qualifications
• Change in geographical scope of intervention

In the event of a change that would call into question the validity of the criteria required to work as an energy renovation coach, a new authorization procedure will be carried out. Any request for an update of the declared area of intervention shall be reported to theAnah: titleContent or its local delegation which carries out a new examination of the approval.

These notifications are made using the teleprocedure services set up by the Anah.

Renewal of approval

The applicant for approval shall use the approved forms made available by theAnah: titleContent for the preparation of the initial application and renewal of approval files:

By way of derogation, certain documents in the renewal dossier may not be required for the following natural and legal persons:

• Structure that has contracted with a local authority or its group to provide information, advice and support
• Operator of the National Housing Agency
• Architect
• Structure contributing to the implementation of a planned habitat improvement operation, or a general interest habitat improvement program, provided that this operation is currently under valid agreement with a territorial community or a group of territorial communities.

In the event of an incomplete file, the National Housing Agency shall send the person concerned a request for additional documents. The time limit for examining the approval shall be suspended until the requested supplements have been received. The application for approval may be rejected in the event that a file remains incomplete after a first application for supplements.

Approval or renewal shall be granted by express decision of the National Habitat Agency for a maximum duration of 5 years renewable, within 3 months of the date of submission of the dossier. The silence maintained by the Agency at the end of that period shall constitute an implied decision rejecting the application.

Approval is valid:

• On the national perimeter, for natural and legal persons
• In the territorial jurisdiction of the territorial collectivity or grouping of territorial collectivities, for third-party financing businesses

After examining the supporting documents, in the event of serious doubts as to whether the conditions of capacity and independence of the operator have been met, or if the submitted documents do not meet the requirements laid down by the applicable regulations, the National Housing Agency may refuse to renew the approval.

Where the holder of the approval no longer meets the conditions of the issue of the approval, inform theAnah: titleContent.

Approval may be withdrawn at any time by theAnah: titleContent, where the holder does not comply with his obligations or no longer fulfills the conditions which enabled him to be granted an approval. The withdrawal shall be decided by the National Housing Agency, after it has given the holder of the authorization the opportunity to submit his observations within a period of between 15 days and one month at the most as determined by the Agency.

Withdrawal of the authorization during the service does not call into question the validity of the support for the issue of energy renovation premiums (for the customer).

Approval may be suspended for a maximum of 3 months or permanently withdrawn, in particular for the following reasons:

• Obstruction of controls or a request for control that has not been answered
• Finding of a failure to provide support services, following the inspection
• Finds that the operator no longer fulfills the conditions required for authorization following the performance of the check
• Failure to implement corrective measures within the time limit
• Outsourcing of support missions outside the authorized cases
• Identification of a fraudulent practice that may include the communication of false information or documents in support of the application for authorization or in the context of the accompanying service
• Execution of a work or the absence of neutrality vis-à-vis a company of execution of a work or recommended technological solutions
• Partial, inadequate performance, or lack of performance of accompanying services
• Lack of awareness of consumer protection provisions
• In the event of a significant change in the situation of the approved operator which would jeopardize compliance with the approval criteria
• For any other reason of non-compliance with the obligations related to the missions of the energy renovation advisor.

The decision to suspend or to withdraw definitively shall be notified to the operator by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. The suspension or permanent withdrawal of the authorization in the course of delivery does not call into question the validity of the support for the issue of energy renovation subsidies.