It is possible that your civil liability insurance covers you to support your self-construction house project.
Building damage insurance is difficult to obtain for a self-built house, and above all very expensive.
If self-construction allows you to save money and gain autonomy, it is important to think about the risks involved.
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Real estate purchase or work: help for owners
You have decided to embark on a crazy and exciting project: building your house on your own. Most of the time, this choice is motivated by the desire to gain freedom and autonomy, but also to make savings on the total construction budget. Whether it concerns simple tasks or the entire building, self-construction involves risks as well as obstacles, such as convincing insurance companies to trust you.
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The ten-year guarantee and work damage insurance
Regardless of their trade, French craftsmen are required to take out ten-year insurance when they embark on a project. Very practical for both the professional and the buyer, it insures the property against possible damage that could occur within ten years following receipt of the property. This guarantee constitutes the Holy Grail for those who embark on self-construction. And for good reason: few insurance companies agree to support you in this project, for the simple reason that the organizations do not know your skills in DIY and construction. The only way to obtain a ten-year guarantee is to call on experts who will endorse your work. Be aware, however, that it will have a certain cost: between €3,000 and €7,000 per year depending on insurance and the self-construction project.
As for structural damage insurance, which covers you in the event of a construction defect, it also remains very difficult to obtain. Insurers are cautious or make you pay the highest price when taking out a contract. Although it is not mandatory, this guarantee is very regularly requested by banks when granting a loan.
What about civil liability insurance?
If you are unable to obtain either the ten-year guarantee or the building damage insurance, what is left to insure your self-built house? Liability insurance can cover you and anyone working on the project, whether they are volunteers or paid. It is possible that your contract already includes self-construction, but if this is not the case, it will need to be adjusted. And for good reason: in the event of injury to an individual on your site, you risk a lawsuit. If the person concerned helps you for free, then your civil liability will be incurred and it will be covered, but if you pay them, you will be immediately deemed responsible and the costs incurred will not be covered by your insurance.
The risks involved in building a house yourself
It is essential to start building a house yourself with the right information. Please note that in the absence of a ten-year guarantee, you will be obliged to notify the potential buyer of your property if you sell it before the ten-year period. Without this insurance or that of damage to the work, problems linked to poor workmanship will be your responsibility. The risks are even greater if you are not a building professional. Be sure to weigh the pros and cons of such a project since in the event of major repairs, the savings made during self-construction may be lost.
