Those who want to build or simply enlarge their house should know that the guarantees of a professional are not enough. To be well protected, you must take out damage insurance. Back in four questions on the operation of this guarantee.
Is this cover compulsory for the owner?
Not necessarily. The law actually requires all contracting authorities to take out this protection. Here we mean anyone who has construction work carried out. It can be the owner if he builds his house himself or if he deals directly with his architect or the hired contractor. It also happens that individual pavilion builders offer their customers group insurance negotiated by them. In this case, it is then the professional who contracts the insurance on behalf of the client.
On the other hand, within a joint ownership, it is the trustee who subscribes it when he is designated as agent to make carry out renovations in the common parts. In the case of a building, it is also the property developer or the seller who takes care of it for the benefit of successive owners.
What damage does this insurance compensate?
This protection aims to cover the costs of repairing damage that arises after the end of the work and which is covered by the professional's ten-year guarantee. We are therefore only talking about what can compromise the solidity of the accommodation or make it uninhabitable.
Without being exhaustive, this is for example the case for large cracks in the walls, sagging of the floor, collapse of the roof, ruptured pipes or even large water infiltrations. Conversely, poor workmanship and minor disorders are covered by other guarantees. For the insurance to work, it is imperative that it is taken out before the start of the work.
How long does the insurance play?
The damage-to-work insurance goes hand in hand with the ten-year guarantee. Like the latter, it therefore takes effect from receipt of the work and protects the client for ten years. In order to avoid any further annoyance, however, special care must be taken when the site is delivered. It is imperative to register the slightest defect or non-conformity at the time of signing and send a copy to its insurer to warn it.
You should also know that if the owner receives his house without the assistance of a professional, the law gives eight days to report any faults that would have escaped him at the reception of the site.
In the event of a claim, should the manufacturer be first notified?
During the year following the reception of the site, it is in principle the guarantee of perfect completion which plays in the event of a problem. It is only if the owner has given notice to the professional to intervene and the latter has not performed within the period provided for in the contract, that damage-work protection can play.
To do this, you must attach a copy of the letter sent to the manufacturer to the claim declaration and send everything to the insurer by registered post with acknowledgment of receipt. If the damage appears beyond a year, it is possible to contact the insurance company directly. In all cases, the latter has 60 days to notify you if the guarantee is in effect and 30 more to quantify the compensation.
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