Guarantees after receipt of work

Verified 25 September 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

You have had building works carried out on your property and you see defects ? After the receipt of work, you can benefit from legal guarantees that allow the manufacturer to repair the damage. This is the guarantee of perfect completion (GPA), the guarantee of good operation and the ten-year guarantee. We take stock of their implementation.

You can benefit from warranties if you notice a disorder (for example, a crack, infiltration, equipment that does not work or a malformation).

Safeguards can be implemented when the following 3 conditions are met:

  • Works for the implementation of a book
  • Defect found after the reception works
  • Current applicable warranty period.

FYI  

The reception of the works can be done with or without reservation (report of defect) in the acknowledgement report. If you do not report the disorder, it is considered accepted. You will no longer be able to ask the manufacturer to repair it under warranties. On the other hand, defects that were not visible at the time of receipt may be covered by a warranty depending on their nature.

Every builder is liable for works to build a new or existing structure.

You should contact your manufacturer who may be:

  • Architect, contractor, technician or technical controller
  • Real estate developer
  • Seller of building to build or renovate
  • Builder of detached houses
  • Service provider linked to contracting authority by a contract of rental of works
  • A person or agent who sells, after completion, a work that he or she has constructed or caused to be constructed
  • Manufacturer of a work, part of a work or piece of equipment.

Please note

The manufacturer shall not be liable if he proves that the damage was caused by an exceptional cause (force majeure, made by a third party or through contracting authority).

The guarantee to be implemented varies according to whether the disorders concern the structural work or an item of equipment construction (tiling, heating, sanitary facilities) and the moment where it appears after the receipt of work.

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Any disorders that appeared during the 1^st year after the receipt of the work

You benefit from the guarantee of perfect completion (GPA).

She requires the manufacturer to repair all disorders mentioned in the minutes of receipt, as well as those appearing during the year following the receipt of work.

The disorders observed must be the subject of a notification to the manufacturer. You owe him write in letter RAR: titleContent to ask him to carry out repairs within a period you set him.

If he does not intervene, you can make an attempt to mediation.

In the absence of repair within the set time, you can refer the matter to the court in the year covered by surrogacy.

Warning  

Surrogacy does not cover the normal wear and tear of the property. It only targets disorders linked to poor execution of works.

Disorders that occurred in the 2nd year^ after receiving work on equipment items

You benefit from a guarantee of proper functioning two years old. Its duration may be extended if the contract so provides.

The warranty requires the manufacturer to repair or replace only detachable equipment items, defective after receipt of the work. He this refers to all items of equipment which can be removed without damaging the frame (e.g. hot water tank).

In order to use this warranty, you must inform the manufacturer of the defects found by letter RAR: titleContent. You ask him to intervene at his own expense within a time limit that you set for him.

If he does not intervene, you can make an attempt to mediation.

In the absence of repair within the set time, you can refer the matter to the court within the period covered by the performance guarantee.

Warning  

The performance guarantee does not cover disorders that affect the elements that are an integral part of the construction (for example, foundations, load-bearing walls or the roof).

Disorders that occurred within 10 years of receiving the structural work

You benefit from the ten-year guarantee.

For 10 years after receipt of work, it requires the manufacturer to repair damage which was not detectable at the time of that type-approval. The ten-year warranty covers the following damages:

  • Building strength compromised
  • Strength of inseparable elements compromised
  • Construction rendered uninhabitable
  • Construction rendered unfit for the purpose for which it is intended.

Ten-yearly insurance for manufacturers covers damage to:

  • Foundation and skeleton structures
  • Sustainability structures (networks, sanitation)
  • Road (access road)
  • Building with foundations (veranda, terrace, buried swimming pool...))
  • Equipment elements inseparable from the building (pipeline, ceiling, floor, central heating, door frames, recessed electrical installation...).)

To use the ten-year warranty, you must send a letter RAR: titleContent to the manufacturer describing the disorders.

He must repair them at his own expense for the 10 years covered by the warranty.

You you must also report disorders to your insurer under your construction and non-construction insurance. You'll have to send him a letter RAR: titleContent of formal notice to obtain compensation for your damage.

In the absence of repair, you may attempt to mediation or refer the matter to the court.

Warning  

Subcontractors are excluded from the scope of the ten-year guarantee because they have no direct link with the contracting authority.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • For a question about insurance regulations

    Info Bank - Insurance

  • For a question about housing

    Departmental Agency for Housing Information (Adil)

  • For a question about fraud

    Are you having a problem following a purchase? Do you have a question about a point of law before buying or ordering?

    You can get an answer from an agent of the DGCCRF: titleContent by calling the 0809,540,550.

    Opening hours of the service:

    Number not overtaxed

    • Monday and Tuesday: from 8.30am to 12.30pm and from 1.15pm to 5.15pm
    • Wednesday: 1:15 pm to 5:15 pm
    • Thursday: from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
    • Friday: from 8:30 am to 4 pm

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