Decennial insurance for general contractors: all trades and subcontracting
A general contractor is committed to the project owner for all the works, including those it subcontracts. Its decennial cover must therefore include every activity on site. Lev Assurances helps you build a contract suited to all-trades projects.
- Cover for every trade carried out
- Managing subcontractors
- Certificate to attach to contracts
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Points to check for a general contractor
- All activities carried out or subcontracted
- Insurance required from subcontractors
- Cost of works per project
- Limits suited to your projects
- Any design or project management role
What is specific to general contractors
Towards the project owner, the general contractor answers for the whole structure, even for packages carried out by subcontractors. Its decennial guarantee must therefore include every activity on site, whether performed in-house or subcontracted.
Subcontractors are not, in that capacity alone, subject to the statutory decennial insurance obligation that applies to builders contracting with the project owner; their liability can nevertheless be sought for ten years (article 1792-4-2 of the French Civil Code). Suitable insurance is therefore often required by the subcontract, the main contract or the main contractor’s insurer: check and keep their certificates. See our decennial certificate page.
Contracts for general contractors take into account the cost of projects and overall turnover. Above certain cost thresholds, a per-project declaration or a specific policy may be required. If you also carry out design or project management, it must be declared.
The project owner takes out dommages-ouvrage insurance, which pre-funds repairs before recovering the cost from the builders. The two covers work together, as explained in our construction insurance guide.
More about decennial insurance
Construction insurance
Overview of construction insurance in France: decennial, dommages-ouvrage, professional liability.
Decennial liability (BTP)
Our main page on decennial insurance for construction professionals.
Decennial certificate
What the certificate must contain and when to give it to the client.
Covered activities and exclusions
Why declared activities determine what is covered.
Dommages-ouvrage insurance
The project owner’s insurance, complementary to decennial cover.
How we review your decennial insurance
Describe your organisation
Work carried out directly, packages subcontracted, contract values and share of subcontracting determine the policy.
Gather your documents
Business registration, project references, qualifications, previous certificates and your subcontractors’ insurance certificates.
Review cover and excesses
Activities covered across all trades, limits per project, excesses and exclusions are reviewed with you before you sign.
Receive your certificate
If accepted and the policy is taken out, the certificate listing the insured activities must be attached to your quotes and invoices. It may also be appended to contracts when requested.
Let’s review your general contractor’s decennial insurance
Describe the work you carry out, what you subcontract and the value of your contracts: Lev Assurances reviews your file and, if an insurer accepts it, supports you through to the certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Is the general contractor liable for subcontracted work?
Yes, towards the project owner. Its decennial cover must include these activities. A subcontractor is not subject to the statutory decennial obligation in that capacity alone, but insurance is often required contractually.
Must a general contractor declare every trade?
The activities you carry out directly and the scope of the work you subcontract must be declared to the insurer according to its classification and the policy conditions. Check that the certificate matches how your projects are actually organised and the insured activities.
Should you check your subcontractors’ insurance?
Yes, it is strongly recommended. The main contractor remains liable to the client for the work it has undertaken. Ask your subcontractors for their insurance certificates and check that they match the activities entrusted to them, without assuming that all of them are subject, simply as subcontractors, to the legal decennial insurance obligation.
Does a large project need a specific policy?
Above certain cost thresholds, the insurer may ask for a per-project declaration or a dedicated policy.
Decennial insurance suited to your trade
Decennial insurance is chosen according to the activities you actually carry out, your experience and your projects. Lev Assurances helps you declare the right activities and understand your contract — Lev Assurances, broker registered with ORIAS no. 24001858, supervised by the ACPR (French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority).