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THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CO-OWNERS WHO MUST AGREE TO THE WORK BEING CARRIED OUT The government is preparing two reforms aimed at making it easier for residents of

_copropriétés_ (shared apartment blocks) to push through renovation projects. At present, two thirds of co-owners must agree to work being carried out for the project to go ahead. FranceInfo

reports that the Minister for Housing, Olivier Klein, is proposing to lower this to 50% of owners to encourage improvements to energy efficiency via renovations where necessary. The

government also wants to facilitate the holding of extraordinary general meetings in co-owned properties, where voting on building work normally takes place. The plan is to allow these to be

held remotely so as not to have to wait a year between each meeting. The proposals are expected to be formally unveiled in January, just as new rules come in to prohibit the rental of

properties with an energy efficiency rating (_diagnostic de performance énergétique_) of G – the lowest score possible. Read more: Home energy efficiency: Key dates for property owners in

France Jean-Marc Torrollion, president of the Fédération nationale de l’immobilier (FNAIM), told FranceInfo that they could be "a good thing" but that the measure relating to the

50% majority would need to be "nuanced" so that it did not lead to “an unsustainable budget for all co-owners”. Renovations cost an average of €20,000 per co-owner. At present, 30%

of housing in France is in co-ownership, yet this sector accounts for just 1% of applications for government renovation grants under the MaPrimeRénov’ scheme. RELATED ARTICLES EXPLAINED:

HOW TO APPLY FOR A RENOVATION GRANT FOR YOUR FRENCH HOME RENOVATION LOANS, EVICTIONS, HOUSE SWAPS: FIVE FRENCH PROPERTY UPDATES