All questions on the reception of your new-build home.

Three essential items: (1) the complete site file (plans, permit, specifications, interim invoices), (2) a room-by-room checklist of points to verify, and (3) booking an independent expert. Book the expert at least 3 weeks in advance — the good ones are quickly taken.

The contractor must call you by registered mail at least 15 days before the proposed date (Article 7 Breyne Law for the first official notice). If the proposed date does not suit you, you can ask for another. Never sign a rushed reception — it is your strict right.

The visit starts with the exterior (façades, roof, terraces, connections), then the interior room by room (floors, walls, ceilings, joinery, technical equipment). At each defect found, the expert photographs it, describes it precisely and numbers it. The minutes are drafted at the end of the visit and signed by all parties.

A reservation is a visible defect recorded in the reception minutes with a precise description, location, photo and lifting deadline. Standard wording: « Kitchen tiling, south-east joint over 80 cm, misaligned and stained with mortar — to be corrected before 30/06/2026. » Avoid vague wording such as « finishes to review ».

There is no legal limit. On a new single-family home, 30 to 80 reservations are typical at provisional reception (which is normal). On a VEFA apartment, 15 to 40. If the contractor tries to limit the number of reservations: refuse categorically, that is fraud.

The standard deadline is 3 to 6 months after the provisional, precisely defined in the minutes. For minor defects (paint, joints), 1-2 months are enough. For technical defects (water-tightness, heating), count on 3-6 months. No legal deadline exists — it is contractual, hence negotiable in the minutes.

The 5% retention is released on signing of the final reception minutes, i.e. at least one year after the provisional. If the contractor has not lifted all reservations by the time of the final, you can retain a proportional share. Never release 100% if substantial defects persist.

If the defect is structural (shell, water-tightness, stability): ten-year liability, valid 10 years after the final reception. If the defect is functional (equipment): two-year warranty (2 years). In both cases: registered formal notice, expert report, and proceedings before the enterprise court if no amicable agreement within 30 days.