Until recently, the energy performance certificate (DPE in French, EPC in English) was little more than a formality tied to a sale or a long-term lease. That framework has shifted. Under the law commonly known as the Le Meur law, furnished tourist rentals are progressively being brought within the scope of energy obligations, including in mountain areas where the housing stock is old and heavily used in winter. For an owner letting an apartment in Tignes or across the Tarentaise valley, understanding this regulatory trajectory is no longer optional. It is now a component of the property's value and its ability to be let.
This article sets out the principles, the deadlines to anticipate and the steps to take. Information current as of July 2026; indicative data that does not constitute personalised advice, please verify with a qualified professional.
What the Le Meur law changes for furnished tourist rentals
Historically, furnished tourist rentals were exempt from part of the energy requirements applying to conventional lettings. The Le Meur law has narrowed that gap. Its intent is twofold: to better regulate a fast-growing tourist rental market, and to progressively align furnished tourist rentals with the energy standards applied to the rest of the housing stock.
In practical terms, the EPC is becoming a required document in a growing number of situations: when applying for a change-of-use authorisation in municipalities that impose one, when registering a furnished rental, or as a condition of letting in so-called high-demand (zones tendues) areas. The logic is that of a phased calendar: the least efficient dwellings, the energy sieves, are targeted first, with requirements tightening in stages over time.
One point is essential. The EPC is no longer a purely informative document. In the territories concerned, it is becoming a condition of access to the tourist rental market. An unfavourable rating may, over time, restrict the ability to let.
The timeline: stay cautious on exact dates
The phased ban on energy sieves follows a trajectory by energy label, with the lowest classes affected first. The precise dates and how they apply to furnished tourist rentals nonetheless depend on implementing decrees, on the nature of the municipality and on its classification as a high-demand area.
We recommend a methodical caution. Rather than relying on a date heard in passing, it is better to verify two sources: the town hall of the municipality where the property is located, which knows the local change-of-use and registration rules, and a certified diagnostician, who will establish the property's actual rating. Together, these two sources give a reliable reading of your specific situation.
Why the EPC matters in a mountain resort
The housing stock of Tarentaise resorts has characteristics that make the energy question particularly sensitive. Many apartments date from the major construction waves of the 1960s to the 1980s. Original insulation, window frames and direct electric heating systems weigh heavily on the energy rating.
Intensive winter use amplifies these issues. A poorly insulated property consumes more, costs more to heat and offers less comfort to occupants. The EPC acts here as a revealer: it brings to light what the heating charges already suggested.
For an owner, this opens a dual reading of the certificate:
- A regulatory reading. The rating governs eligibility for tourist letting in the areas concerned, today or tomorrow.
- An asset reading. A good energy rating protects resale value and reassures a clientele increasingly attentive to comfort and energy efficiency.
Steps to take now
Anticipating is better than being caught out by a deadline. Here are the steps we advise an owner to secure the situation of their property.
Obtain or update the EPC
An EPC has a limited validity period, and calculation methods have evolved. An old certificate may no longer reflect reality or current regulation. Engaging a certified diagnostician yields a reliable, enforceable rating, together with the accompanying works recommendations.
Identify improvement levers
The EPC report ranks the sources of heat loss. In the mountains, the most significant gains often come from replacing window frames, strengthening insulation and modernising the heating system. Some of this work falls to the individual owner, some to the co-ownership. A careful reading of the certificate distinguishes what is your responsibility from what belongs to the common areas.
Check local rules
Each resort municipality applies its own rules on change of use, furnished-rental registration and, where applicable, compensation. The town hall remains the reference source. A professional manager knows these procedures and folds them into the compliance work of the mandate.
A manager's role in energy compliance
Energy compliance is not a one-off event but an ongoing process. Deadlines evolve, certificates expire, municipal rules sharpen. An owner living far from the resort can hardly track this shifting landscape alone.
This is precisely what professional management under a Hoguet-law mandate provides. At Serava, the property's document tracking, including the EPC and mandatory diagnostics, is centralised and accessible in real time in the owner portal. At any moment you know where your property's compliance stands, which documents are valid and which are approaching expiry. This visibility turns a regulatory constraint into a controlled process.
It is part of a broader framework of transparency. Holding property management card CPI 67012023000000016 and covered by a SOCAF financial guarantee of 150,000 euros, Serava operates to institutional standards where documentary traceability is a permanent requirement, not an option.
Entrust your property to Serava
The regulatory trajectory of the EPC for furnished tourist rentals calls for anticipation and documentary rigour. Serava manages this compliance tracking and gives you full visibility in your owner portal, without you having to monitor every change. To assess the situation of your property and the levers to activate, request a free assessment.