VEFA Handover: The Complete Snagging List Checklist (Alpes-Maritimes & Var)

Buying off-plan (VEFA – Vente en l’État Futur d’Achèvement) means buying from blueprints. Handover is the legal act by which the buyer accepts the completed property, with or without listed snags. It marks the starting point of the statutory warranties. Getting it right is essential to protecting your investment in the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var, where new-build developments are plentiful.

Reservation contractNotarial deedSite monitoringHandoverWarrantiesDeposit paidWork startsSite visitsSnagging list1/2/10-year warranties Reservation contractNotarial deedSite monitoringHandoverWarrantiesDeposit paidWork startsSite visitsSnagging list1/2/10-year warranties

The key moment: the handover walkthrough

Handover can be tacit, contradictory (in-person), or ordered by a court. The most common is the contradictory handover: a walkthrough with the developer present, followed by the handing over of the keys and the signing of a handover report. Never sign without having methodically inspected the property. You can be assisted by a professional (architect or building expert): the cost is modest compared to what’s at stake.

Room-by-room inspection checklist

• Joinery: opening/closing, weatherproofing, scratches, seals, handles.
• Finishes: tiling (hollow sound, cracks, chips), flooring, paintwork (marks, patch repairs).
• Plumbing: water flow, drainage, no leaks, mechanical ventilation (VMC) operation.
• Electrics: sockets, switches, circuit breaker, compliance with the plans.
• Cracks: walls, ceilings, corners, thresholds.
• Plans and compliance: floor areas, partition placement, fittings as specified.
• Exterior (houses): façade, roof, gutters, terraces, water drainage.
• Communal areas (apartment buildings): lobbies, cellars, car parks, technical rooms.

Wording your snagging list within the deadlines

At handover, you record your snags in writing on the handover report. Visible defects at delivery must be listed immediately. For hidden defects or unlisted snags discovered later, you have a set timeframe:

• One-year comprehensive warranty (garantie de parfait achèvement): any defect reported in writing within the year following handover must be repaired, even if it wasn’t listed on the handover report.
• Two-year warranty (biennale / bon fonctionnement): detachable equipment (boiler, roller shutters, doors).
• Ten-year structural warranty (décennale): defects affecting structural soundness or making the property unfit for its intended use.

The building expert’s role in a VEFA purchase

A building expert assists you before and during handover. They check compliance with the plans and contract, detect construction defects an untrained eye would miss, and help you draft a precise, legally binding snagging list. In the event of a dispute with the developer (delay, non-compliance, refusal to remedy listed snags), their technical report forms the basis for a formal notice and, if needed, legal action. For an investment of several hundred thousand euros, this assistance is essential peace of mind.

Pitfalls to avoid

• Signing the handover report « with no snags » under pressure from the developer.
• Overlooking non-visible defects (damp, ventilation, energy performance).
• Failing to notify defects discovered after handover by registered letter.
• Confusing the two-year warranty with the ten-year structural warranty.

Learn more

• Ten-year structural warranty and building damage insurance: how compensation works when defects occur
• VEFA: step-by-step site monitoring to secure your off-plan purchase
• VEFA: delivery delays, penalties and recourse against the developer

📅 Updated on 02/08/2026 — By Cassini Expertise, independent building expert covering the Alpes-Maritimes & Var. Free quote: 04 22 46 06 04.