catlady

I'm in a very similar situation (could it be the same builders?!) and have already started action...I went first to a Notaire who put me in touch with a Huissier. The latter is a legal bailiff/surveyor who came out and inspected the problems, has produced a "proces verbal de constat" which is a document detailing everything, and is dealing with the builders on my behalf. Like everything in France, it will take some time! However the system should work, eventually.      

answering my own question, I'm putting this link here in case it's useful to anyone else who has problems like this! http://www.frenchentree.com/renovation-and-decoration/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=24214 And I did follow the advice on how to find an Artisan first, but it seems that however careful you are you can still be stitched up.

An update...a simple suggestion I might cancel got them on site within days and all looked to be going well. However i've just had a call from my neighbours, my house has been left uninhabitable...plumbing disconnected, bare electric wires all over the place, damage to my beams, rubbish piled up outside. They knew by email that I am coming over next week (and I was expecting to do the decorating). So my next question is, as they are properly registered, Siret number and all, what steps do I take to get this rectified? I believe that I have protection under French law? Thanks again.

wooly, panda, catalpa, thank you very much! I'll start down the "get a new date agreed in writing" route and follow up with a lawyer's letter if that doesn't work. Ummm, can someone direct me to somewhere to find French lawyers who speak English? I do speak everyday French but legal stuff is difficult even in English!

[quote user="Sunday Driver"]If you have previously agreed that there were valid reasons behind some of the delays, this might weaken your case...   [/quote] Only the first one...crucial workman going sick! There's been no reason other than "sorry...busy" for the rest; and that's delays to dates they've offered me for the work, not dates I've tried to ask for.

[quote user="BJSLIV"]If you didn't include a specific required by date, a delay of 12 months would probably not invalidate the contract. Therefore if you cancel you risk losing some or all of your deposit.[/quote] Thanks, I thought there might be something awkward like that! So this company can just keep my deposit, gain interest on it for say 12 months, and then longer while i try to untangle the legalities? http://www.completefrance.com/cs/images/emotions/sad.gif And I tried really hard to choose a decent, reputable company that would do the work in a timely manner.

Hi I'm new here, looking for some advice. In May I signed a contract for building work (repairs and minor alterations to a fully habitable house I bought in January as a holiday and future retirement home). I paid a 30% deposit. The company is reputable, with a Siret and large portfolio of works. Part of their sales pitch is that they take away the problems of getting builders to turn up... The work was supposed to start in July, but the builders delayed it for what seemed like a good reason. Since then there have been several more delays and work has not yet started. I have kept all the exchanges of e-mails, which include their proposed start dates, so I have evidence that the delays are coming from them. I know getting building work done in France can be longwinded. But what I want to know is, what is my position if I cancel now, with regard to my deposit? I've searched this and other sites, I know the rules are different in France, but I'm not sure of the detail. Thanks.