Advice · Renovation
Handover of the works: the moment not to miss
8 October 2026 · 4 min read · By the Aldeak team
The handover of the works (known in France as the “réception des travaux”) is the act by which you accept the work, with or without reservations. It is a short but decisive moment: all the guarantees run from it.
What the law says
The French Civil Code defines handover as the act by which the client declares that they accept the work, with or without reservations. It takes place jointly, that is to say in the presence of the contractor, and is recorded in a handover report signed by both parties.
Preparing for the inspection
- Allow plenty of time and good light: an inspection at the end of a winter's day lets defects slip through.
- Go back over the quote and the plans, room by room.
- Test everything: doors and windows, taps, drains, sockets, lighting, heating, ventilation.
- Look closely at the finishes: joints, paintwork, alignments, junctions.
Reservations
Every visible defect or missing item must be written down precisely in the handover report: location, nature of the defect, agreed time frame for the remedial work.
A visible defect that is not recorded as a reservation at handover is, in principle, considered to have been accepted. This is the moment to note it, or never.
Where reservations are made, the client may withhold up to 5% of the price as a retention, until they are lifted.
A good reservation is precise: “shower room, floor tiles, three cracked tiles in front of the shower” is far better than “finishes to be redone”. Also note the agreed time frame for the remedial work and, if need be, attach dated photos to the handover report.
Example: the retention
Worked example: a renovation costing €40,000 incl. VAT
Take, by way of example, a renovation costing €40,000 including VAT. At handover, two reservations are noted: a cupboard door that rubs and a poorly finished shower seal.
| Price of the works | €40,000 incl. VAT |
| Retention | 5% |
| Amount withheld from the payment | €2,000 |
It is deposited with a third party accepted by both parties, unless the contractor replaces it with a bank guarantee. It serves to guarantee that the reservations are lifted and the remedial work properly carried out. The 1971 law provides for it to be released one year after handover, unless the client lodges a reasoned objection, notified to the contractor. If both defects are put right after three weeks, the lifting of the reservations is recorded in writing, with the date.
The guarantees that begin
Three guarantees run from the date of handover:
The contractor repairs all defects reported, whether recorded as reservations at handover or appearing during the year.
Equipment that can be removed without damaging the building (shutters, taps, radiators…).
Damage that undermines the structural soundness of the work or makes it unfit for its purpose.
To invoke the completion guarantee, report the defect to the contractor in writing, preferably by recorded delivery letter with acknowledgement of receipt, describing it and setting a reasonable time frame for the remedial work. If nothing is done, you can serve the contractor with formal notice, then have the work carried out at their expense. For major defects, building damage insurance (“dommages-ouvrage”), if it has been taken out, allows you to be compensated without waiting for liability to be established.
The steps to a successful handover
- Set the date with the contractor, in writing, a few days in advance.
- Carry out a preliminary inspection on your own, quote in hand, to spot the points to check.
- Inspect together, room by room, and test each piece of equipment.
- Draw up the handover report: with or without reservations, precise and dated reservations, time frame for the remedial work.
- Sign, keep a copy, and collect the insurance certificates and the instruction manuals.
- Record the lifting of the reservations in writing once the remedial work is done.
Mistakes to avoid
- Moving in without a formal handover: the start date of the guarantees then becomes open to dispute.
- Signing a handover report with no reservations to be agreeable or out of end-of-project fatigue.
- Paying the full balance while reservations are still open, without a retention.
- Being vague in describing the defects.
- Forgetting to ask for the ten-year insurance certificate, useful in the event of a claim and when selling.
For a major project, you can be accompanied at handover by an independent architect or building surveyor: an outside eye spots what an untrained one misses.
New homes bought off-plan
For a home bought off-plan (“vente en l'état futur d'achèvement”), delivery to the buyer follows similar rules: completion is recorded and reservations are made when the keys are handed over, after which you have one month to report any visible defects discovered later.
At Aldeak
On our home renovation projects, handover is carried out together, room by room. Any reservations are lifted within the agreed time frames, and you receive the insurance certificates and the equipment instruction manuals.
Sources : Code civil, articles 1792 à 1792-6 (réception, garanties de parfait achèvement, biennale et décennale) · Loi n° 71-584 du 16 juillet 1971 (retenue de garantie de 5 %, consignation ou caution, libération au bout d’un an) · Code des assurances, article L. 242-1 (assurance dommages-ouvrage) · Code civil, article 1642-1 (vente en l’état futur d’achèvement, défauts apparents) · service-public.fr
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I do not note a defect at handover?
A visible defect that is not recorded as a reservation is, in principle, considered to have been accepted. Hence the importance of a careful inspection.
Can handover be refused?
Yes, if the work is not in a fit state to be accepted, for example if it is unfinished or unfit for use.
When does the ten-year guarantee start?
From the date of handover of the works.
How much is the retention?
At most 5% of the price of the works. It can be replaced by a bank guarantee and must be released one year after handover, unless a reasoned objection is made.
Is a defect that appears after handover covered?
Yes, the completion guarantee covers defects reported in the year following handover. Removable items of equipment are then covered by the two-year guarantee.
Do I need a recorded delivery letter to report a defect?
It is not always required, but a dated written notice, preferably by recorded delivery with acknowledgement of receipt, is the best proof.
Can I be accompanied at handover?
Yes, by an independent architect or building surveyor, at your own expense.
What is tacit handover?
The courts sometimes accept it when the client has clearly shown their intention to accept the work, for example by moving in and paying almost all of the price. It is better to avoid this uncertain situation and sign a handover report.
