Dispute with a contractor in France: completion and decennial warranties
After receiving building work, notify defects in writing and distinguish the guarantee of perfect completion (defects reported during the year after acceptance) from the decennial guarantee (serious damage affecting solidity or intended use for 10 years). Attach the contract, acceptance report, photographs and quotes; demand repair and identify the contractor's insurer.
Quick answer
After receiving building work, notify defects in writing and distinguish the guarantee of perfect completion (defects reported during the year after acceptance) from the decennial guarantee (serious damage affecting solidity or intended use for 10 years). Attach the contract, acceptance report, photographs and quotes; demand repair and identify the contractor's insurer.
| Who it is for | People facing this procedure |
| Key rule | After receiving building work, notify defects in writing and distinguish the guarantee of perfect completion (defects reported during the year after acceptance) from the decennial guarantee (serious damage affecting solidity or intended use for 10 years). Attach the contract, acceptance report, photographs and quotes; demand repair and identify the contractor's insurer. |
| First step | Write to the relevant organisation and keep proof of dispatch |
| Evidence | Decision, contract, dates and supporting documents |
| Escalation | Written complaint, formal notice, mediator or court |
| Common mistake | Relying on a phone call without dated proof |
1. Check the rule and the deadline
After receiving building work, notify defects in writing and distinguish the guarantee of perfect completion (defects reported during the year after acceptance) from the decennial guarantee (serious damage affecting solidity or intended use for 10 years). Attach the contract, acceptance report, photographs and quotes; demand repair and identify the contractor's insurer.
Read the contract, notice or policy carefully. Mark the date of receipt, the date of the event and the final date for your request. If the law gives a special deadline, the official notice and the contract may contain additional details.
2. Build a dated file
- Put the notice, contract, invoices, statements and earlier correspondence in date order.
- Add photographs, calculations, receipts or other documents that prove the facts.
- Write the exact result you seek and give a reasonable response date.
Keep the delivery proof and every reply.
3. Letter template
Subject: Dispute with a contractor in France: completion and decennial warranties
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing about [contract, decision or reference] dated [date]. After receiving building work, notify defects in writing and distinguish the guarantee of perfect completion (defects reported during the year after acceptance) from the decennial guarantee (serious damage affecting solidity or intended use for 10 years). Attach the contract, acceptance report, photographs and quotes; demand repair and identify the contractor's insurer. I ask you to review the file and confirm the correction or solution requested in the attached documents.
Yours faithfully,
[Date — Signature]
MaisonMail can print and dispatch this letter through an available registered service. Origin market, delivery time, tracking and proof of receipt are confirmed before payment.
4. If there is no satisfactory reply
If the first recipient does not resolve the matter, send a formal notice with the earlier proof and use the designated mediator, commission or administrative remedy. Do not abandon an applicable deadline while negotiating. Keep copies of the complete file.
In short: After receiving building work, notify defects in writing and distinguish the guarantee of perfect completion (defects reported during the year after acceptance) from the decennial guarantee (serious damage affecting solidity or intended use for 10 years). Attach the contract, acceptance report, photographs and quotes; demand repair and identify the contractor's insurer.
Official sources
References used and links to the rules currently in force.
- Garantie décennale des constructeurs (F2034)Service-Public.fr
- Code civil, art. 1792 et 1792-4-1Légifrance
Information current as of the last verification date. This guide is informational and is not legal advice — for a complex situation, consult a qualified professional.
Frequently asked questions
What should the letter contain?
Identify the parties, the relevant contract or decision, dates, precise request and attached evidence.
Does sending a complaint stop payment or a deadline?
Not automatically. Check the applicable rule and request a suspension or payment plan separately when necessary.
Why use registered mail?
It creates a dated dispatch and delivery record and preserves the content of the request.
What if the recipient does not reply?
Send a formal notice, use the competent mediator or commission, and consider court before the limitation period expires.
Related guides
- Unpaid rent in France: reminders, formal notice and the landlord's remedies (letter template)A tenant who stops paying: the landlord's playbook — friendly reminder, formal notice by registered mail, guarantor and rent-default insurance, CAF reporting, order to pay and the termination clause (6-week deadline), payment injunction. Letter template and the 3-year limitation period.
- Contesting a rent increase in France: IRL revision, rent caps and letter templateHow to contest a rent increase in France: revision clause and IRL calculation (article 17-1 of the law of 6 July 1989), the one-year non-retroactive limit, rent caps in high-demand zones, the departmental conciliation commission. Contestation letter template for registered mail and refund of overpaid rent.
- Contesting co-ownership charges in France: supporting documents, the 2-month deadline and the letter to the syndicExploding co-ownership charges or a doubtful reconciliation: how to check the allocation (tantièmes, utility), demand supporting documents from the syndic, contest a general meeting decision within 2 months (article 42 of the 1965 law) and sue to revise the allocation. Letter template for registered mail.
Ready to send your letter?
Use our pre-filled template and we will print, stamp and dispatch it for you.