Construction insurance in France: decennial, dommages-ouvrage and liability
Construction insurance in France combines several covers that answer different liabilities depending on whether you are a tradesperson, a building company, a project owner or a developer. Lev Assurances helps you tell apart decennial liability, dommages-ouvrage, professional liability and building insurance so your cover matches your role in the project.
- Tradespeople and building companies
- Project owners and developers
- Covers coordinated for each site
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The 4 covers to tell apart
- Decennial liability — the builder
- Dommages-ouvrage — the project owner
- Professional liability — the business
- Building liability — the owner or managing agent
Understanding the insurance around a building project
Decennial insurance, dommages-ouvrage (building defects insurance), professional liability and building liability do not cover the same situations. Decennial liability insurance protects professionals whose liability can be engaged for ten years after handover, while dommages-ouvrage insurance is taken out by the project owner to pre-fund the repair of certain defects before liability is established.
The Spinetta Act of 1978 organises French construction insurance around this link between builders’ liability and the project owner’s insurance. Depending on your role and the type of works, your insurance obligations, the covers to plan and the documents to provide differ. A prior review avoids confusing contracts with different legal purposes.
Professional liability insurance works in another area: it covers damage caused to third parties in the course of your business that does not necessarily fall under the decennial guarantee. For a company with premises, a depot or equipment, industrial multi-risk insurance can complete the set-up to protect its assets and tools.
The insurance certificate lets you check the covers in force, their period of validity and the declared activities: works carried out outside declared activities may not be covered. For an owner or a co-ownership, building liability for owners and managing agents addresses specific property risks (see also our property insurance page). The aim is to coordinate covers rather than look for a single contract that supposedly covers everything.
Insurance and solutions for construction
Decennial liability (BTP)
Compulsory insurance for builders covering defects that compromise the soundness of the structure or make it unfit for purpose.
Dommages-ouvrage insurance
Taken out by the project owner before works start, it pre-funds the repair of decennial-type defects under the terms of the contract.
Professional liability
Professional liability covers the consequences of damage caused to third parties while carrying out your business.
Building liability: owner and managing agent
Cover for risks related to a building, its ownership or its management by a managing agent.
Industrial multi-risk
Protection of a company’s premises, equipment and activity, depending on the covers chosen.
Business loan
Financing a van, equipment or an investment for your business, subject to review of your file.
How to organise your construction insurance
Identify your role
Tradesperson, company, project owner, developer or owner: your position in the project determines the covers to review.
Describe the works precisely
Activities, type of site and techniques used must be described accurately.
Check contracts and certificates
Declared activities, cover periods and certificate details must match the reality of the project.
Coordinate the covers
Decennial, dommages-ouvrage, professional liability and building insurance complement each other without replacing one another.
Get your construction insurance needs reviewed
Preparing a building project, working in construction or need to check the covers required for a project? Tell us about your situation: Lev Assurances will review your needs.
Decennial insurance by trade
Practical decennial insurance guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between decennial insurance and dommages-ouvrage?
The decennial guarantee relates to the builder’s liability. Dommages-ouvrage is taken out by the project owner to be compensated quickly for certain defects, without waiting for liability to be established.
Does professional liability replace decennial insurance?
No. Professional liability and decennial liability cover different risks. A construction professional generally needs both, depending on their activity.
What does the 1978 Spinetta Act provide?
The Spinetta Act of 4 January 1978 organised construction insurance in France around the decennial liability of builders and dommages-ouvrage insurance.
What is a decennial insurance certificate for?
It lets you check the declared activities, the validity period and the covers in force of the professional. The project owner can ask for it before works start.
Does a building owner have the same needs as a construction company?
No. A building owner, a construction company and a project owner do not bear the same liabilities. The contracts to review depend on their role.
How do I request a review?
Describe your activity, your role in the project and the type of works on the quote page, or call the firm on +33 1 41 81 60 94.
Covers to coordinate around every building project
A construction project can involve several types of insurance depending on the parties, the works and the liabilities at stake. Lev Assurances helps you identify the relevant covers and understand how they fit together — Lev Assurances, broker registered with ORIAS no. 24001858, supervised by the ACPR (French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority).