Glossary
Garantie décennale: the 10-year builders guarantee
Quick definition
The garantie décennale is a mandatory 10-year liability insurance that French law requires every building contractor to hold. It covers defects in their work that compromise the structural integrity of a building or render it unfit for its intended purpose. The 10-year period starts from the date of formal handover, known as the reception des travaux. Before any contractor begins work, they must give you written proof that their cover is current; this information should appear on the devis you sign.
What does the garantie décennale cover?
French law (Code civil, articles 1792 and following) defines the scope precisely. The garantie decennale applies to defects that:
- Affect the solidity of the construction or its structural components
- Affect elements that are inseparable from the structure (foundations, walls, roof, load-bearing elements)
- Render the building or the work unfit for its intended use
For home energy installations, this means: a heat pump installed incorrectly that causes structural water damage, a solar mounting system that fails and damages the roof, or an electrical installation that creates a fire risk due to a structural fault. The bar is structural or functional failure, not minor finishing issues.
What are the three French construction guarantees?
The decennale sits within a framework of three overlapping legal guarantees that apply after any construction work in France:
- Garantie de parfait achevement (1 year): the contractor must fix any defect you flag in writing within one year of handover, regardless of how minor. This is your first line of recourse for snags and finishing issues.
- Garantie biennale (2 years): covers defects in separable equipment, meaning items that can be removed without damaging the building structure. This includes heating and cooling equipment, built-in appliances, and similar components.
- Garantie decennale (10 years): covers structural and functional defects as described above, for the full decade from handover.
When a problem arises, work out which guarantee applies before contacting your contractor. Minor snags in year one go through the parfait achevement process. A heat pump compressor failure in year three likely falls under the biennale. A roof leak caused by poor solar panel mounting in year seven would be a decennale claim.
Does the guarantee follow the property?
Yes. The garantie decennale attaches to the work done, not to the person who commissioned it. If you sell your property within 10 years of having work carried out, the remaining guarantee transfers to the buyer. This is relevant when buying a property that has had recent renovation or installation work: ask for the attestation d'assurance decennale from the contractor who did the work.
How do you check a contractor's cover?
Every contractor is legally required to include their insurance details on any written quote. When you receive a devis, look for:
- The name of the insurer
- The policy number
- The geographical scope of cover (should include France)
- The dates the policy is valid (must cover the period when work takes place)
If this information is missing from the devis, ask for it before signing. A contractor who does not provide it is either uninsured or non-compliant with French law. Do not proceed with a contractor who cannot produce a current attestation d'assurance decennale on request.
You can also ask to see the full attestation document directly rather than relying on the devis summary. This is standard practice for larger jobs and any contractor operating legitimately should provide it without hesitation.
What if something goes wrong?
If a defect covered by the garantie decennale appears within the 10-year period:
- Notify the contractor in writing (lettre recommandee avec accuse de reception) describing the defect
- Contact your own home insurance (assurance habitation) and report the problem; they may assist with the claim process
- If the contractor is unresponsive or disputes liability, the claim goes through the courts. French civil courts handle these disputes; you will need a lawyer (avocat) with construction experience
Your own insurer may also have a dommages-ouvrage policy if one was taken out at the time of construction or major works. This type of policy pays out first and then pursues the contractor's insurer separately, which avoids you having to wait for the liability question to be resolved before repairs begin. Dommages-ouvrage is mandatory for the property owner on new construction but is often overlooked for renovation work.
Is an RGE-certified contractor automatically covered?
RGE certification and garantie decennale are separate things. RGE confirms that a contractor meets the quality standards required to access energy subsidies. It says nothing about their insurance status. Always check the decennale cover independently, regardless of whether the contractor holds RGE or any other certification.