12. Handover of Your New Home in France - La Réception

When the builder has completed construction of your new home, you then take delivery (or handover) of the property.

The formal handover of the property is called la réception.

If an unconditional handover takes place it registers the start of the ten year building guarantee period.

Accordingly, the process is very prescribed in the contract, which stipulates three different outcomes, as follows:

1. 12.1. Unconditional Handover
2. 12.2. Conditional Handover
3. 12.3. Refusal of Handover

If you have not retained an architect, then consider approaching an official bailiff, called a huissier, to assist in the handover inspection.

Indeed, if you are anticipating problems, the intervention of the huissier alongside your architect might be a wise choice.

In the event that you are not happy with the property on handover, the builder is unlikely to challenge the opinion of your expert as easily they might your own opinion.

Sometimes builders offer the services of an expert appointed by them to assist a client on handover if they have no building professional of their own. Resist the temptation to accept such an offer, and instead appoint your own.

One other approach sometimes used is for a pre-inspection of the property to be undertaken, during which any problems can be identified and resolved, prior to the formal handover.