Energy Performance Diagnosis (EPD) is once again topical. This time it is the evolution of its price which risks making the owners shudder. All this for a question of regulation. Mandatory for the latter in case of sale or rental of real estate, the DPE is regularly identified for its nature lack of reliability. In 2022, the magazine 60 million consumers had in particular warned about the recurring errors made by diagnosticians (misjudged heating, confusion about the construction date or the number of m2…). Some owners have thus found themselves with F or G classified label after having completed several thousand euros of energy works.
Faced with this situation, the government took the initiative by publishing a decree in 2023 to strengthen diagnosticians’ skills. More in-depth training, more regular renewal of certification, strengthened controls… Professionals must adapt to the new regulations because 1AND July 2024 (date of entry into force of the text). However, “all these changes have a direct impact on our finances. The diagnostic certification, issued for seven years, previously cost around 12,000 euros, compared to 30,000-45,000 on 1AND July 2024,” explains Hassad Mouheb, president of one of the diagnostic federations, FED Experts.
To pass on these costs, some professionals will therefore increase their prices by “10-15%” during the year, reports Hassad Mouheb. Keep in mind that the price of a DPE is around 200 euros but varies depending on the surface area of the accommodation, its location and the heating system. “We must also take into account the increase in the prices of professional liability insurance,” emphasizes the diagnostician. According to the professional insurance brokerage specialist Cover up the price of this insurance increased by 13% in 2023, after a 12% increase in 2022. A situation that can be explained the increase in accidents and the increase of repair costs.
However, some professionals will be forced to maintain prices and reduce margins, especially in large cities. “Some territories are facing tough competition,” Hassad Mouheb emphasizes. With a very attractive market after the health crisis – particularly in 2021 with a record number of transactions on existing properties – the number of companies specializing in real estate diagnostics has exploded, from 5,300 in 2019 to 8,600 in 2023 (+ 62%), according to a sector study by Xerfi. There are currently approximately 11,500 diagnostics listed on the market.
In other words, homeowners in large cities should be more spared from the increase in the price of the DPE. They may even see the price of the energy audit fall. The latter – mandatory since April 2023 for the sale of a single-family home – recorded particularly high prices last year, “between 800 and 1,000 euros,” says Hassad Mouheb. Now, faced with competition, some companies offer an energy audit for “500 euros.” It is therefore wise to encourage competition by asking for quotes from service providers in the hope of getting the best price.