Decennial guarantee:
what it really covers in your renovation

"Garantie decennale" appears on every serious quote, yet few clients know precisely what it covers -- and, crucially, what it does not. Here is the essential information, without the jargon.

What the law says

Decennial liability (articles 1792 et seq. of the French Civil Code) obliges every building contractor to repair, for 10 years after handover, any damage that compromises the structural integrity of the works or renders them unfit for their intended purpose. The contractor must be insured for this liability before the project starts: that is decennial insurance, and its certificate must be appended to the quote and the invoice.

What is covered in a renovation

In an apartment or villa renovation, the decennial guarantee typically covers:

• waterproofing defects that render a room unusable (a poorly executed walk-in shower, water ingress);
• defective work on concealed services -- plumbing or electrics -- that make the property dangerous or uninhabitable;
• damage to elements that are inseparable from the building fabric: screeds, bonded tiling, load-bearing partitions;
• subsidence or structural cracking caused by the works.

What is not covered

Purely cosmetic defects (a paint shade, an uneven grout line) and normal wear and tear are not covered by the decennial guarantee. They are dealt with by two other guarantees: the perfect completion guarantee (1 year -- all defects reported at handover or during the following year) and the biennial guarantee (2 years -- removable fittings: taps, radiators, shutters).

Good practice before you sign

• Ask for the decennial insurance certificate currently in force and check that the declared activity matches the works (electrics, plumbing, tiling, etc.).
• Verify the company's SIREN number (ours: 909 278 780, available on Pappers).
• Carry out a proper handover inspection with a written report: it is the handover that triggers the guarantees.

How we work

At AGAPE, every trade package -- electrics, plumbing, finishes, joinery -- is covered by the decennial guarantee, and the certificate is provided with the quote. Because the entire project is carried out by a single company, there is never any debate about "who is responsible": it is us, contractually, for the full duration.

Have a question about a quote you have received, or planning a renovation in Nice? Write to us -- we are happy to help, even if the project is not (yet) ours.