Clay removal-swelling aid (RGA) for single-family homes
Verified 19 June 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
Your detached house is located in an area exposed to the phenomenon of clay shrinkage-swelling (RGA) and you want to avoid the appearance of cracks or disorders? A support system for the RGA is being set up on a trial basis in certain departments. It funds a vulnerability diagnosis and prevention works. We present you the information to know.
The RGA aid concerns the following departments:
- Allier (03)
- France (04)
- Close Dordogne (24)
- Gers (32)
- Indre (36)
- Close up, Lot-et-Garonne (47)
- Meurthe-et-Moselle (54)
- North (59)
- Puy-de-Dôme (63)
- Tarn (81)
- Tarn-et-Garonne (82).
Before any request, it is recommended to check its right of access to the device:
Verify your entitlement to Clay Removal-Swelling Assistance (RGA) from the Clay Prevention Fund
Step-by-step approach
Clay shrinkage-swelling is a natural phenomenon that causes variations in the volume of clay soil located under the foundations of a house. In dry periods, the soil shrinks. In wet periods, it swells. These movements can weaken constructions (cracks, distortion of doors and windows, rupture of pipes...).)
To prevent these risks, the State has set up, on an experimental basis, the RGA aid in 11 departments for:
- Financing a diagnosis of housing vulnerability
- Accompany the owners
- And carry out prevention works before the occurrence of damage.
In order to benefit from the scheme, several conditions must be met.
The simulator is used to check whether the following conditions are met:
Verify your entitlement to Clay Removal-Swelling Assistance (RGA) from the Clay Prevention Fund
Conditions related to housing
You have to be owner occupant of a detached house.
Housing must meet all of the following conditions :
- Be located in a area of high exposure to the RGA
- Be completed for more than 15 years
- Be no adjoining
- Being busy as primary residence
- Be covered by a home insurance
- Comprise a maximum of 3 levels (the basement and attic converted for housing count for each 1 level).
On the other hand, housing must not :
- Have suffered damage affecting its solidity or hindering its normal use
- To be the subject of a claim for compensation, currently under investigation, under the natural disaster compensation scheme
- Have been compensated for a sinister related to differential land movements resulting from drought and soil rehydration, recognized under the natural disaster compensation scheme, i.e. where such compensation has occurred after 30 June 2025, or where such compensation has occurred between on 1er July 2015 and June 30, 2025 and that the compensation received was greater than €10,000 all taxes included (TTC).
Income Conditions
The owner must respect resource limits.
These ceilings are classified into 3 categories:
- Very modest incomes
- Modest incomes
- Intermediate income.
The income withheld is reference tax revenue (RFR) year N-1 (i.e. 2025 for applications made in 2026).
Very modest incomes
Composition of the hearth | Resource ceilings |
|---|---|
1 person | €17,363 |
2 people | €25,393 |
3 people | €30,540 |
4 people | €35,676 |
5 people | €40,835 |
Per additional person | + €5,151 |
Modest incomes
Composition of the hearth | Resource ceilings |
|---|---|
1 person | €22,259 |
2 people | €32,553 |
3 people | €39,148 |
4 people | €45,735 |
5 people | €52,348 |
Per additional person | +€6,598 |
Intermediate income
Composition of the hearth | Resource ceilings |
|---|---|
1 person | €31,185 |
2 people | €45,842 |
3 people | €55,196 |
4 people | €64,550 |
5 people | €73,907 |
Per additional person | + €9,357 |
Before any request, it is recommended to call on a local advisor free of charge to check the possibility of benefiting from the scheme, understand the procedures to follow, and obtain personalized support:
The owner applies online from website of the Clay Prevention Fund. To access the process, it is necessary to create a personal account by logging in with your FranceConnect credentials.
Warning
Only the owner of the dwelling may create an account on this website. After account creation, applications for payment of aid may be submitted either by the owner, or by the administrative project management assistant (AMO administrative) of the owner (if he has mandated one), or by a service provider entrusted by the prefect of the department to carry out missions of information, advice and accompaniment of the owners.
The online application must be accompanied by the following documents to verify compliance with the conditions for access to the RGA device:
- Copy of a proof of identity of the owner (e.g. national identity card)
- Last income tax notice (IR) of the owner, or notice of declaratory situation to the IR if it is not taxable
- Bank details (Rib) the owner or his financial agent, if appointed
- Proof of ownership (e.g. title) of the owner indicating the year of construction of the dwelling
- When the housing is in undivided, attestation on honor signed by the owner designating him as the sole representative of the joint shareholders
- Certificate of home insurance
- Certification on the owner's honor certifying that he/she has no claim under the natural disaster regime under investigation or that he/she has not been compensated for a claim related to differential land movements resulting from drought and soil rehydration. If the owner has already been compensated, he must certify that the total amount collected is less than €10,000 TTC between 1er July 2015 and June 30, 2025.
- Form for the appointment of an administrative and/or financial representative, if it has been designated by the owner, accompanied by an identity document of the authorized representative.
The system is divided into two phases:
- One study phase which makes it possible to analyse the situation and to carry out a diagnosis of vulnerability of the dwelling to the phenomenon of AGR, following a visit on the spot
- One works phase, which may be engaged, if the diagnosis so warrants, to implement the recommended works.
FYI
Only one application for assistance may be submitted per phase and per dwelling. Aid shall be paid at the end of each phase on presentation of supporting documents.
Study Phase
This phase is 1re step of the device. It aims to assess the level of risk of the dwelling.
Of mandatory benefits must be carried out during this phase.
These are the following:
- Conducting a vulnerability diagnosis, including mandatory inspection of buried water systems
- Assisting in the analysis of vulnerability diagnosis recommendations.
These services are carried out by a technical project management assistant (AMO technique). This professional must meet the requirements of competence and professional experience, in particular as regards construction, civil engineering or geotechnical.
The technical AMO can recommend prevention works. In this case, it identifies the necessary works, called Priority works.
Please note
Failure to implement priority works deemed necessary may be a reason for non-payment of aid and annulment of the decision granting the aid for the Works phase. In this case, if an advance has been paid, it may also be repaid.
The technical AMO can also recommend other prevention works accepted using RGA but secondary and prevention works not permitted using RGA.
Whether or not all recommended works should be achieved must be justified in the vulnerability diagnosis report.
Warning
Only works eligible for RGA aid shall be taken into account in the calculation of the amount of expenditure.
Of additional services may also be carried out during this phase, including:
- Information and support for the owner on the prevention system implemented
- Support of the owner in the constitution and follow-up of the file of request for assistance.
These services are carried out by a Administrative Project Owner Assistant (AMO administrative). It must be an organization approved by the State for the exercise of social, financial and technical engineering activities. They can also be provided by a service provider appointed by the prefect of the department to carry out information, advice and support missions for owners under this scheme.
These benefits are optional, unless the prefect decides to impose the use of these professionals. In that case, it shall specify the conditions.
Works Phase
This phase is phase 2nde step of the device and aims to carry out the works.
Of mandatory benefits must be carried out during this phase, including:
- Assistance provided to the owner in finding companies capable of carrying out prevention works
- Programming, organization and direction of works execution
- Control of works, during construction and reception, and assistance to the owner during the guarantee period of full completion of works
- Works compliance report completed and completion of works report.
These services are carried out by a prime contractor with knowledge of the RGA phenomenon and the technical skills necessary to implement the works recommended in the vulnerability diagnosis. It must be independent of the companies making the works (no wage, capital or economic dependency).
Of additional services may also be carried out during this phase, including:
- Information and support for the owner on the prevention system implemented
- Support provided to the owner in the constitution and follow-up of the application for assistance.
These services are carried out by a Administrative Project Owner Assistant (AMO administrative). It must be an organization approved by the State for the exercise of social, financial and technical engineering activities. They can also be provided by a service provider appointed by the prefect of the department to carry out information, advice and support missions for owners under this scheme.
These benefits are optional, unless the prefect decides to impose the use of these professionals. In that case, it shall specify the conditions.
The amount of aid depends on the resources and services provided.
The aid may cover 50% à 90% expenditure, within certain ceilings. Expenditure in excess of these ceilings is therefore not taken into account in the calculation of the aid.
Course | Very modest incomes (TMO) | Modest incomes (MB) | Intermediate income (INT) |
|---|---|---|---|
Study phase (in particular, carrying out the vulnerability diagnosis) | 90% (TTC) | 85% (TTC) | 70% (TTC) |
Works phase (including assistance to the owner in finding companies) | 90% (TTC) | 85% (TTC) | 70% (TTC) |
Set of works | 80% (TTC) | 70% (TTC) | 50% (TTC) |
Course | Benefits | Nature of services | Maximum eligible expenditure for RGA aid, excluding tax (HT) |
|---|---|---|---|
Study Phase | Mandatory benefits |
| €2,000 |
Optional benefits |
| €1,000 | |
Works Phase | Mandatory benefits |
| €1,800 |
Optional benefits |
| €200 | |
Achievement of works | €14,000 |
Please note
Where the dwelling has been compensated under the scheme for compensation for natural disasters occurring between 1er July 2015 and June 30, 2025 and that the compensation received was equal to or less than €10,000 TTC, the calculated aid is reduced by 10%within the limit of the amount of compensation received.
Payment of aid for the study phase
At the end of the study phase, the following documents must be submitted for the payment of the corresponding aid:
- Financing plan including the various public and private aids, allowances and rebates, if applicable
- Invoices paid detailing the services actually performed
- Report of the vulnerability diagnosis including photographs of the housing and its close environment, dated and signed with the stamp of the technical AMO.
Payment of aid for the Works phase
At the completion of the Works phase, the following documents must be submitted for the payment of the corresponding aid:
- Invoices paid detailing the services and works actually performed
- Report of control of the works by the supervisor, accompanied by photographs of realization of the works and attesting to their conformity, dated and signed with the stamp of the supervisor and the company or companies having realized the works.
An advance may be requested for this phase. It is reserved for households with very modest income (VAT). She must be filed before the start of the Works phase and within 6 months after the notification the allocation of the aid.
This advance shall be granted up to 30% the estimated amount of aid.
The request for advance must be accompanied by detailed estimates of the works dated and signed by the owner and, if necessary, by his agent and the company, with mention of the request for advance payment.
The instructing service may request any additional document, including a certificate from the company, to check that the request for advance payment is justified.
FYI
Checks may be carried out to ensure compliance with the conditions for granting the aid. The owner is informed at least 5 days before an on-the-spot check and must give his consent for access to housing, then sign a minutes at the end of the visit. In the event of non-compliance, a report shall be drawn up and any refusal or obstacle to monitoring shall be considered as a failure which may suspend the aid. Sanctions may apply (withdrawal of aid, repayment, financial penalties up to an increase of 50% sums to be repaid in the event of willful non-compliance, and 100% in case of fraudulent maneuvers).
Verify your entitlement to Clay Removal-Swelling Assistance (RGA) from the Clay Prevention Fund
Ministry of Housing
Ministry of Housing