According to Article L

This decision sheds important light on your property law. Here is what it changes for you.

The situation

Under Article L. 231-1 of the French Construction and Housing Code, any contract for the construction of an individual house must include both the descriptive specifications and the technical execution conditions of the works, as well as the description and estimated cost of the interior or exterior fitting-out works which are essential for the siting and use or habitation of the building and which are not included in the price. Therefore, a decision which, in order to order the project owners to bear the cost of unforeseen special foundations and to exclude any fault of the builder, holds that, according to the contract, the additional foundation works were to be borne by the project owner and that, according to the descriptive specifications, the indicated price did not include these works, the builder not being able, at the time of concluding the contract, to know the presence of deep fill requiring special foundations which proved to be essential, is liable to be quashed.

What the law says

This decision confirms the fundamental principles of property law.

Key points

• Scrupulously respect the legal time limits for bringing an action
• Keep all your supporting documents (deeds, instruments, correspondence)
• Be proactive: preventive advice always costs less than litigation

For an analysis of your situation: 30-minute consultation at €45 with Maître Zakine.