Faced with a persistent housing crisis, the government is announcing major changes to the Prêt à Taux Zéro (PTZ – zero interest loan) from 1 April 2025. This scheme, already popular with first-time buyers, is being significantly extended to make it easier to buy your own home and support the property market. Let’s take a closer look at the changes made, the eligibility criteria and the consequences of this reform.
Extending the PTZ for greater flexibility
Until 31 March 2025, the PTZ is available only for the purchase of a new home in a collective dwelling located in prime areas (A, A bis and B1), excluding detached houses and less populated areas. But from 1 April 2025, there will be major changes to the scheme:
- You can buy a new detached house with a PTZ, something that was previously impossible with a conventional purchase.
- Access to the PTZ in all communes in France, regardless of geographical area.
- New homes concerned: any property completed less than 5 years ago.
- Duration of the extension: this reform will apply until 31 December 2027.
Conditions of eligibility for the PTZ
Despite these adjustments, the PTZ still has strict award criteria:
- Reserved for first-time buyers, i.e. those who have not owned their principal residence in the two years preceding the application.
- Subject to income ceilings that vary according to the location of the property and the number of occupants.
- Cannot cover the entire cost of the home: additional financing (traditional bank loan, home savings loan, social housing loan) is required.
A strategic plan to boost the property sector
This extension is designed to boost new construction and meet the needs of low-income households. However, adjustments have been made to maintain a balance between support for home purchases and environmental objectives:
- Distinctions between detached houses and flats: new houses will be financed at lower rates than multi-family housing.
- For the most affluent households (bracket 4), the proportion of the PTZ will be reduced to 10% for houses, compared with 20% previously.
- In the case of older homes, only those with energy renovation work representing at least 25% of the total cost will remain eligible.
Prospects and challenges for the PTZ 2025
The extension of the PTZ has been eagerly awaited by industry professionals. Damien Hereng, President of the French Federation of House Builders, says: “A PTZ accessible throughout the country, whatever the type of home, is the reform the new housing sector needed to get back on its feet.
However, a number of questions remain unanswered:
- Willthe budget allocated be sufficient to support this extension until 2027?
- Will deferred repayments be maintained to facilitate access for first-time buyers?
- Won’t the 2027 deadline limit the long-term impact of this reform?
Conclusion
With this reform, the PTZ becomes more accessible and inclusive, offering an opportunity for more households to become homeowners. By enabling the purchase of single-family homes and extending its scope to cover the whole of France, it could play a key role in revitalising the property sector. However, the success of this measure will depend on its financing and the government’s ability to adapt the scheme to the needs of buyers. It is therefore essential to closely monitor its application and any adjustments that may be necessary in the years ahead.
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