12. Handover of Your New Home in France

1. 12. Handover Process
   12.1. Unconditional Handover
   12.2. Conditional Handover
   12.3. Refusal of Handover

12.3. Refusal of Handover - Le Refus de Réception

If you and your advisor are completely dissatisfied with the works then handover can be refused, called le refus de réception.

But you need to be able to justify refusal of handover.

It is may well be that there are defects or non-conformities of both a substantive and minor nature. In these circumstances, you would be justified in refusing the handover on the substantive issues, and accepting conditional handover on the minor defects.

It can all get very 'bitty', but that is often the way the law works in France.

You are not obliged to handover the retention to the Notaire, which you can retain yourself.

Where agreement cannot be reached about the works to be carried out then, ultimately, you have the right to invoke the procedure under the delivery guarantee for a third party to complete the works.

Alternatively, as with a conditional handover, either party would need apply to the court for a decision.