Overview
- Prosecutors in Saintes say three suspects will face trial on April 24 for allegedly diverting more than €1 million in renovation aid and harming nearly 50 households and artisans.
- Investigators report the group opened subsidy files on the housing agency’s site using personal data, filed fake quotes that named certified RGE contractors who never worked, and left some clients with shoddy repairs.
- Police seized luxury goods, vehicles, and cash from the suspects, who are under judicial control and contest the charges that include organized fraud and money laundering.
- In a separate Paris case tied to a pyramidal setup of door-to-door recruiters and filing firms, a trial of seven defendants has closed with prosecutors seeking prison terms, heavy fines, and professional bans, with a ruling set for June 8.
- France’s housing agency says it blocked more than 21,000 fraud attempts in 2025 and stopped €174 million in improper payments, underscoring why the state briefly paused part of the MaPrimeRénov’ channel that requires RGE-certified work to qualify for aid.