Builders in France – a varied bunch
Ask any ex-pat and they will tell you a story. Everyone has a tale to tell about builders in France. Everyone has an opinion, and there are many who love to tell you that whatever it is you thought you knew on the subject, you were wrong. There are bad builders out there... cowboys and highwaymen who will con you out of your last centime and build you a house that will fall down as soon as the wind blows. There are other builders in France who work "on the black" and can cause you to face a frightening invasion of gendarmes and some enormous fines. There are those builders who seem to be everything you want, but fail to actually turn up to start the job... or perhaps, even worse, those builders who start the job but disappear from the local radar long before the work is finished.
|
Finding the right builder in France
All this can be quite disconcerting for a newly "ex-patriated" member of the community, whose future happiness depends upon finding "the right one" from this fickle bunch we know as builders in France. If you are in the position, as so many of us are, of needing a builder in France, there are a few things you can do to smooth your path and avoid the pitfalls.
|
French builders or English builders?
Is it better to employ French builders or English builders? It really is horses for courses. If you speak very little French it makes sense to employ an English builder to avoid the communication problem (Learning French, Learning to speak French - Misadventures in a Foreign Tongue). Even if you do speak French you may prefer to use an English builder because of the common knowledge base that you will share, and there is certainly no reason why an English builder in France is not every bit as well qualified and legally registered as a French one.
|
|
|
French builders may have an advantage
The French builders may have the advantage, though, of local knowledge, of local building techniques and materials, and may have long established useful links with other craftsmen whose services would be helpful to you in the future. There are also now many more nationalities operating as builders and other tradesmen within France, with the opening of the European boundaries allowing a flood of different nationalities into the country. There are, of course, both good and bad builders of all nationalities, and whichever you choose, the qualifications and legality are of more importance than what is written on the passport!
|
How to find builders in France – personal recommendation
There are several ways that you can find builders in France, and it is also possible that builders may just find you! One of the best ways is, as ever, by personal recommendation, as the builders then come with a reference from someone that you can trust. Moreover, if the builders have completed work for a person you know in the area, you will be able to see the work that has been done and to draw your own conclusions as to the quality.
|
Find a builder in France at your Mairie
As with so many things in France, the local Mairie is another good starting point. If you have only just moved to the area and don't yet know anyone to get a word of mouth recommendation, try asking at the Mairie about reliable local craftsmen. Whilst not directly accountable they are unlikely to point you in the direction of a cowboy or an unregistered builder, so there is some sort of safeguard built in to this method of finding a builder. The possible downside, however, is that those who work in the Mairie will be local people with their own causes to promote, and may be more keen to get work for dear old Uncle Claude then to be completely objective.
|
|
|
Find a builder in France by using Qualibat
Qualibat is a database of registered builders that covers the whole of France, and if you have no way of obtaining personal recommendation then you could do worse than take a look on its website, www.qualibat.com. Once again, you will find only legitimate and qualified tradesmen on here, so it is a useful resource.
|
Find a builder in France from Internet sites for ex-pats
There are various websites that offer help and advice to ex-pats and French property owners, and these can be another very useful resource. Our site, for example, has a Services section that lists tradesmen (Builders providing a service in France).
|
Find a builder in France from local publications
You can also use the services sections of local publications to seek tradesmen. There will usually be various adverts under the different headings of the trades, and most areas have a good choice of builders listed.
|
Find a builder in France from trade organisations
There are several trade organisations to which a builder can be affiliated, but you need to be aware that whilst some of these give a certain guarantee of quality and conformity, they do not necessarily include all good qualified builders in their membership. For example, many English (and other non French nationals) builders (albeit suitably qualified and registered etc.) may not affiliate to these societies because of the language barrier. However, they can certainly be worth investigating, especially if your level of French is good.
|
Builders in France affiliated to UNCMI and FFC
Consider builders with affiliation to UNCMI (Union Nationale des Constructeurs de Maisons Individuelles) if you are looking to build a new house from scratch, and are using a standard design. If you are building something a little more individual it may be worth finding a builder from the ranks of the FFC (Fédération des Constructeurs de Maisons Individuelles), which is known to be a very good organisation that provides legal and financial guarantees for work done by their members. (New build property in France, Building or extending property in France, Land for Sale in France.)
|
What to check when you've found a builder in France
When you think you have found a builder who may be suitable, or if one has presented himself (which can happen if he spots the potential for a good job!), it is important to know how to check his credentials if you are to avoid some potential problems. The first thing to do is to ascertain that he is registered for work in France, so that you safeguard yourself against a person who is working on the black. Not being registered does not necessarily mean that he is a bad builder, but if you employ him and you are caught it would leave you open to an investigation by the gendarmes, and to some very large fines. Not an ideal way to begin your new life in France.
|
Check that your builder is registered in France
Checking that the tradesman is registered is easy. A registered builder will have a Siret number, amongst others, on his paperwork, and this is the identification you need. You can check if you wish, with the local Chambre de Metiers that the Siret number is correct. All tradesmen (artisans) have to register with the Chambre de Metiers in their prefecture, thus creating a simple and effective database for checking legality. It is also good to know that in order to register, the tradesmen have to take a course on good business practice and to display their formal qualifications and record of related experience.
|
Check your builder has a ten year guarantee
Check too, that there is the normal required ten year guarantee policy in place, as this is there to protect both you and the builder and is very important. This guarantee should protect you from non completion of work, from bad workmanship and from failure of materials over time.
|
Devis
Another way of safeguarding yourself is to request an official quote, or "devis". This is binding, so you have the peace of mind that the builder cannot begin the work then bump up the price without justification. Of course, make sure that the work you ask the builder to do is exactly what is detailed on the devis. I have heard builders complain that a client has accepted a devis for a job and then changed the requirements of the job completely and expected the price to remain the same.
Check what's included on the devis carefully too. There have been cases where a client has received a bill considerably greater than the quote on the original devis, only to be informed that the devis was for materials only, not inclusive of labour.
|
Paying builders in France
If you are contemplating major building works then it is common to be asked to pay the builder in stages. You will probably be asked to produce a deposit payment before work begins, to cover the initial materials required to start the job. The payments will then be staged as necessary as the work progresses, with each payment having an official invoice detailing exactly what has been agreed, what has been done, and what has been paid to accompany it and to act as a safeguard. If the job is a small one and likely to be completed in a week or so, it is normal to pay at the end of the work.
|
Redress possibilities
If you should find yourself in the unfortunate position of having paid a builder upfront for work that is not completed, or not completed to your satisfaction, you have several possibilities for redress (assuming the builder is registered). You can claim against the ten year guarantee, you can approach the Chambre de Metiers with which the builder is registered, or speak to his trade association.
Additional articles which may be of interest:
Plumbing in France
Property grants available in France
Surveyors in France
Green and eco friendly building in France
|
About the author
Joanna Simm moved to the Languedoc area of south-west France in October 2004 having found her property through French Property Links.
|
|
|
