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France Implements 2026 Changes to Pay, Housing Rules and Everyday Costs

French households enter 2026 facing modest indexation alongside new rules that reshape renovation incentives and housing labels.

Overview

  • The minimum wage rises by 1.18% on January 1 (about €17 net per month) and base pensions increase by 0.9% for 2026.
  • A recalculation of the energy-performance rating lowers the electricity coefficient from 2.3 to 1.9, moving roughly 700,000 homes out of the “passoire thermique” category.
  • The MaPrimeRénov’ renovation aid is suspended due to the absence of an adopted 2026 budget, leaving about 80,000 applications in limbo at Anah.
  • From January 1, all monetary gifts and certain valuables must be declared online to the tax authority, with a paper option for those without internet access.
  • The new paid birth leave is postponed to July 2026, with eligibility maintained for children born or adopted between January 1 and May 31.