Cash handouts to owners for home improvements has a short history in France. It has only been since the start of the century that ANAH, the main housing agency, was granted powers and resources for the owner-occupied sector, and only since 2010 that a general grants system has been in place.

Since then, as is still the case, the main thrust of policy has been to improve the thermal efficiency of homes, with grants and other incentives towards green heating installations, ventilation and insulation.