Actualité - What guarantees are there when investing in new-development property i

Article updated on 06/10/2026

There usually comes a time in life when you want to buy a larger, more comfortable home, ideally close to the town centre but in a quiet neighbourhood with green spaces… in short, the ideal setting for the whole family, especially if it is about to grow!

In that case, it is not unusual to want to invest in a new-build property, which gives you the right to three types of guarantee.

Key points

Buying a new-build home gives you three guarantees: completion (1 year), two-year and ten-year.
The completion guarantee covers any problem found in the year following the handover of the home.
The two-year guarantee covers equipment that can easily be removed from the structure, such as shutters or the hot water tank.
The ten-year guarantee covers damage that threatens the stability of the home or makes it uninhabitable; you must also notify your insurer.

Update of 6 October 2026
The statutory guarantees for new-build homes have not changed: the completion guarantee (1 year), the two-year guarantee, the ten-year guarantee and the dommages-ouvrage insurance, which pre-finances repairs without waiting for a court decision. For off-plan sales (VEFA), the financial completion guarantee has had to be provided by a bank or insurer since 1 January 2015. On the investment side, the 2026 Finance Act replaced the Pinel scheme, which ended in late 2024, with the private landlord status: it allows owners to depreciate 3.5% to 5.5% of the value of a new home in a multi-unit building let unfurnished each year, depending on the rent level.
Source: Stop-Loyer (2026 guide to new-build guarantees); Lefebvre Dalloz (2026 budget), 2026.

The completion guarantee: up to 1 year after the works

Any problem found in the year following the handover of the home must be reported to the company that carried out the works, whether it concerns pipes, floor or wall coverings, or even the opening of the windows.

You simply need to send the builder a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt listing the problems encountered, then agree on a timeframe for the repairs. If this is not respected, you can take the matter to court.

The two-year guarantee: for 2 years

Thanks to this guarantee, you can ask the builder to repair or replace defective equipment that can easily be removed from the structure, such as shutters or the hot water tank.

As with the completion guarantee, you need to send a registered letter. If the company responsible for the works does not meet the deadlines, you can also take your case to court.

The ten-year guarantee: for 10 years

All damage that may threaten the stability of the home or make it uninhabitable, such as waterproofing problems or large cracks, is covered by the ten-year guarantee. The company that carried out your works must therefore make all the necessary repairs at its own expense for 10 years.

Once again, the steps to follow are the same, but you must also report the problems to your insurer in order to be reimbursed as quickly as possible.

Need more information about these guarantees?