Ten-year insurance is also compulsory for individuals who carry out major work themselves

Professionals and individuals in the same boat

Defects, cracks, leaks... Construction-related problems can appear several years after the work is completed. To cover these serious problems, the law requires all builders to take out "ten-year" insurance, which protects the buyer for 10 years after the work is completed.

It is often thought that this only applies to construction professionals. In reality, individuals who build their own house or have major work carried out with a view to reselling their property are also subject to this legal obligation.

The law is very clear: anyone who sells a property they have built or had built is considered a builder. In the event of a resale within 10 years, the buyer can therefore take action against the seller in the event of a problem affecting the solidity or proper use of the property. This therefore implies that the individual must also be covered by ten-year insurance, even if this is not always easy for non-professionals.

What work is involved?

It's not just about major projects. As soon as the work could affect the solidity of the house or make it unfit for its intended purpose, it falls under the scope of the ten-year guarantee:

• Roof repairs, attic conversions, work on load-bearing walls
• Extension work, construction of a garage
• Plumbing, tiling, exterior carpentry
• Creation of bathroom, showers or installation of parquet flooring

Conversely, small home improvement jobs, such as painting or changing soft flooring, for example, are rarely covered.

The risky bet of skipping ten-year insurance

If the individual resells their property within 10 years of the work, they may be held personally liable in the event of a claim and forced to compensate the buyer. This can be a costly decision, given that the cost of repairs sometimes exceeds the sale price of the property.

Some situations can even become dramatic: for example, during a divorce, both ex-spouses remain jointly and severally liable to the buyer. And when the damage is serious (subsidence of the floor, water damage, etc.), this can generate real financial and personal difficulties.

For Philippe Réhel, National Construction Director of the Saretec Group: "In recent years, faced with rising material and labor costs, many homeowners have sought to save money by building their own or reserving certain lots. Hiring an insured professional and taking out building damage insurance means securing your property, protecting your loved ones, and preserving the value of your assets."

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.