Drought-related cracks: new help to better protect homes

Faced with repeated periods of drought, many homes are exposed to ground movements that can cause cracks. To help homeowners protect their homes before the damage becomes too great, the State continues its preventive action through the clay prevention fund.

How to access the clay prevention fund?

Since October 2025, a new prevention aid (the clay prevention fund) is tested by the State in 11 prefigurative departments: Allier, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Dordogne, Gers, Indre, Lot-et-Garonne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Nord, Puy-de-Dôme, Tarn and Tarn-et-Garonne.

This system allows owner-occupiers of single-family homes located in areas of high exposure to the AGR to benefit, under resource conditions, from subsidies to finance vulnerability diagnostics and preventive works.

An order of 23 April 2026 broadens the scope of experimentation to more households. Entered into force since 1^er may 2026, the text provides for these flexibilities:

• eligible homes must now count to the maximum 3 levels (basement and attic are considered levels), compared to 2 levels previously;
• study phase: even if your home is cracked, you can benefit from the help dedicated to vulnerability diagnosis (there are no more crack-related conditions) ;
• works phase: for the aid dedicated to this phase, the maximum crack width condition changes to 5 mm (instead of 1 mm).

A new zoning for the RGA exhibition since July 1, 2026

To accommodate the high loss rate recorded in recent years, a new IGS exposure zoning has been in place since 1^er July 2026 (order of 9 january 2026).

The new map shows an increase in medium and high exposure areas, which now represent 55% of the territory (compared to 48% in 2020). 12.1 million existing detached houses are concerned (or 61.5% of detached houses).

This new zoning also applies to: promises of sale or authentic deeds of sale of unbuilt land buildable; contracts for construction of single-family homes.