How we vet our partner contractors

Every referral we make carries our name. If a contractor we introduced lets you down, that's on us. So here is what we check, why, and what we can't promise.

Why a current garantie décennale comes first

Every contractor we work with must hold a current garantie décennale: the 10-year insurance that covers serious defects in building work. French law requires it, but in practice it lapses, gets overlooked, or some operators never take it out.

We ask for the attestation de garantie décennale before we make any referral. We check that it's current, that it covers the type of work, and that the insured company is the one named on the quote. We check again when it's due for renewal. A contractor who can't or won't show it doesn't join our pool.

The décennale doesn't cover equipment such as a heat pump added to an existing home. For those jobs, get the installer's warranty on the fitting and the maker's warranty on the unit in writing.

How we check RGE on the official register

Most grants for energy work, including MaPrimeRénov' (the state renovation grant) and most CEE grants (paid by energy suppliers), need an installer with the right RGE (the state's approved-installer label) qualification. That's QualiPAC for heat pumps, QualiPV for solar, QualiSol for solar thermal, QualiBAT for insulation. CEE on an air-air heat pump is the exception, since it only asks for a professional installer. We check each contractor on the France Rénov' RGE directory instead of taking their word for it.

RGE is granted per type of work, so a contractor qualified for heat pumps isn't automatically qualified for solar. We only refer contractors for work their current qualification covers. We also check expiry dates. A qualification that lapses between the referral and the work can cost the client their grant.

For EV chargers, we check IRVE status on the QUALIFELEC register. For general electrical work, we check Qualibat or an equivalent. Each type of work has its own check.

How we test a contractor's English

We don't ask contractors to rate their own English. We call them. Our test: can they take a clear brief from an English-speaking owner and confirm they've understood it? Can they write a devis (written quote) that tells the client exactly what they're agreeing to?

The bar is clear communication. Some contractors speak excellent English after years with international clients. Others work in a mix of English and translated documents, with a bilingual colleague taking the calls. Both work. A contractor who keeps misunderstanding clients about what was agreed and what was delivered doesn't.

Why all work needs a written devis first

Every job we refer must have a written devis before any work begins. French law requires one for repair and maintenance work in the building trades, whatever the amount, and it's basic professional practice anyway. We won't refer a contractor who quotes verbally. If you're offered no written quote, stop the conversation there.

We also tell our contractors what a good devis looks like for owners from abroad. It should give a clear description of the work, the materials and brands, the timeline, and the total price with the TVA (French VAT) rate shown. It should also list certification references and payment terms. Our devis glossary entry covers what to look for.

Which references do we ask contractors for?

Doing good work for a local French family is one skill. Working with an English-speaking owner who runs a renovation from abroad is another. We ask for references from clients in that second situation, and we follow them up. We ask three things. Did the work match the devis? Were any extra costs raised before they were incurred, not after? Could you reach the contractor during and after the job?

A contractor with no experience of owners abroad isn't necessarily a bad contractor. We're just honest about whether they fit what our clients need.

What happens after we refer a contractor?

We ask clients to tell us how a referred job went. Not every client does, but enough do that a picture builds up over time. A contractor who starts drawing complaints leaves our pool.

We don't manage jobs after the introduction. The contract is between you and the contractor, and we're not party to it. We do stay available. If a problem comes up and you need help with a dispute or finding someone else, we'll do what we can.

What our vetting can't guarantee

We can't guarantee that every project goes perfectly. Site conditions, supply delays and subcontractors are outside anyone's full control, and even good contractors have bad runs. We vet for honesty and competence.

We also don't claim to have vetted every contractor in the region. Our pool is small on purpose: we'd sooner send you to one contractor we know well than to five we've barely checked. If we have no suitable partner for your job, we'll say so and won't make a referral.

Want to join our Riviera partner pool?

If you work in heating, cooling, solar or electrical work in the 06 or 83 and would like to be considered, read how it works for contractors.