EXPERTISE — VEFA CÔTE D’AZUR
You are in your new apartment in Antibes on the day of delivery. You look out the window: the promised sea view is blocked by a neighboring building. On the sales plan, the sea was unobstructed. In reality, the viewing angle is reduced by 30%. 1 in 4 VEFA buyers on the French Riviera experiences a similar disappointment. You have just signed the delivery report, but you have doubts: did the developer fulfill their commitments?
What You See — and What It Really Hides
You have the plans; the sea view is indicated by an arrow on the site plan. On site, you notice that the neighboring building, which was not built at the time of sale, partially obstructs the horizon. The developer tells you that the view is “in accordance with the building permit.” But the contract stipulated an “unobstructed sea view.” What I often see in this case: developers play on the difference between “sea view” and “glimpse of the sea.” An unobstructed sea view implies a horizontal viewing angle of at least 60°, measured from the center of the window.
The Calculations That Change Everything: Measuring the Lost Viewing Angle
To determine if the sea view is compliant, we measure the horizontal angle from the center of the window. The French standard AFNOR NF P01-040 defines an “unobstructed sea view” as an angle of at least 60° without obstacles. Using a Leica TS total station, I measure the position of your window and the obstructing building. On a case in Antibes last year, I recorded: window-obstacle distance = 25 m, obstacle width = 12 m, giving an angle α = 2 * arctan(6/25) ≈ 27°. The contract promised 60°, you only have 27°. That is a loss of 55%.
What Happens If You Do Nothing
You sign the delivery report without reservations. After one month, you lose the ability to contest the contractual non-conformity. The developer considers that you accepted the apartment as is. Result: your property loses 10 to 15% of its value on the Antibes market, i.e., €30,000 to €50,000 for a three-room apartment. In two years, when you want to resell, the defect will be irreversible. And if you take legal action without prior expert assessment, you risk losing due to lack of solid technical evidence.
Recourse and Guarantees: What You Can Demand
Article 1604 of the French Civil Code requires the seller to deliver property conforming to contractual stipulations. The French Construction and Housing Code (CCH) Article L261-11 specifies that the VEFA contract must describe the property’s characteristics, including the view. If the promised sea view is not there, you can demand a price reduction or, in serious cases, cancellation of the sale. The procedure: send a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt (LRAR) to the developer demanding compliance with the contract. Then, hire an independent expert for a technical assessment. If the developer refuses, file a case with the Grasse judicial court (Tribunal Judiciaire de Grasse). An expert report quantifying the loss in value (e.g., 12% of the price) is your best weapon. Honestly, do not wait: the sea view will not come back on its own.
📅 Mis à jour le 03/08/2026 — Par Cassini Expertise, expert bâtiment indépendant 06 & 83. Devis gratuit : 04 22 46 06 04.
Questions fréquentes
VEFA garantie contractuelle non respectée que faire?
Si le vendeur ne respecte pas les garanties contractuelles de votre VEFA, vous devez d'abord envoyer une mise en demeure par lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception. Si aucune solution n'est trouvée, vous pouvez saisir le tribunal judiciaire pour obtenir l'exécution forcée ou des dommages-intérêts.
Délai pour agir en justice VEFA garantie?
Vous avez un délai de 5 ans à compter de la réception des travaux pour agir au titre de la garantie de parfait achèvement, et de 10 ans pour la garantie décennale. Pour les vices apparents, le délai est de 1 an après la réception.
VEFA vue mer non conforme au contrat recours?
Si la vue sur mer promise n'est pas conforme au contrat, cela peut constituer un manquement contractuel. Vous pouvez demander une réduction du prix ou la résolution de la vente, sous réserve de prouver l'importance de cette vue dans votre décision d'achat.