EXPERTISE — RESERVATIONS
You receive a letter from the developer: “Reservations are lifted.” Yet the living room tile sounds hollow, the French door closes poorly, and the facade expansion joint is still open. 70% of reservation liftings I inspect in Nice hide uncorrected defects. The developer ticks a box, but the defect remains.
What You See — and What It Really Hides
The developer sends you a signed “declaration of lifting of reservations.” You review the initial list: crack, humidity, waterproofing defect… all marked “done.” But looking closely, the crack was just filled with mastic, the humidity was washed without root treatment, and the waterproofing defect was “repaired” with a simple silicone joint.
What no one says: a lifting of reservations is not a technical assessment. It is an administrative declaration. Only an expert can attest that the defect is truly corrected. On a case in Nice last year, I measured a flatness deviation of 8 mm under a 2 m straightedge — the developer had just sanded the screed. The NF DTU 26.2 standard (French technical document for floor screeds) tolerates 3 mm. The defect was still there.
The Calculations That Change Everything: Flatness Tolerance
Take a concrete example: a living room slab in Nice. You place a 2 m straightedge, you measure a deviation of 8 mm. The NF DTU 26.2 standard (French technical document for floor screeds) imposes a maximum deviation of 3 mm under a 2 m straightedge for tiled flooring. Calculation: measured deviation = 8 mm, allowable deviation = 3 mm. Result: non-compliant. Article 1792-3 of the French Civil Code provides that defects affecting equipment elements create a presumption of liability of the builder if the defect renders the structure unfit for its intended purpose. A tile that sounds hollow or cracks falls within this framework.
What Happens If You Do Nothing
Six months later, the crack reappears, wider. The humidity spreads to the adjacent plasterboard. In two years, the tile lifts. Cost of rework? Expect €3,000 to €8,000 for a complete restoration of the area, not to mention the inconvenience. And if you sell, the defect will be detected during the pre-sale inspection: the price drops or the sale falls through.
What I often observe: the developer bets on your weariness. He knows that most owners sign the lifting without checking. But the law is on your side.
Recourse and Guarantees: What You Can Demand
You are covered by the guarantee of perfect completion (art. 1792-6 of the French Civil Code) for unresolved reservations. For serious defects, article 1792 (decennial liability) applies if the defect compromises solidity or renders the structure unfit for its intended purpose. Procedure: send a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt to the developer with a formal notice to remedy, then seize the judicial court of Nice if necessary. A court-appointed expert (like me) will note the defects and estimate the repairs. Do not let the window pass: the decennial guarantee runs up to 10 years after acceptance.
📅 Mis à jour le 12/08/2026 — Par Cassini Expertise, expert bâtiment indépendant 06 & 83. Devis gratuit : 04 22 46 06 04.
Questions fréquentes
Levée de réserves Nice désordre persiste que faire ?
Si la levée de réserves a été signée mais que le désordre persiste, vous pouvez engager la garantie de parfait achèvement (GPA) dans l'année suivant la réception, même si les réserves ont été levées. Envoyez une mise en demeure au constructeur par lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception. S'il ne réagit pas, saisissez le tribunal judiciaire.
Levée de réserves signée mais travaux non faits recours ?
La signature de la levée de réserves ne vous prive pas de vos recours si les désordres persistent. Vous pouvez invoquer la garantie de parfait achèvement (GPA) pendant un an, ou la garantie décennale pour les dommages graves. Conservez toutes les preuves (photos, courriers) et faites appel à un expert si nécessaire.
Désordre après levée de réserves Nice que faire ?
Dans un premier temps, notifiez par écrit le constructeur (LRAR) en détaillant le désordre et en demandant sa réparation. Si le délai d'un an après réception n'est pas écoulé, vous êtes couvert par la garantie de parfait achèvement. Au-delà, vérifiez si le problème relève de la garantie décennale ou biennale. En cas de refus, consultez un avocat expert en droit de la construction.
Cassini Expertise
Expert du bâtiment indépendant — Antibes (06·83·13·40)
📅 Mis à jour le 19/09/2026 — Cassini Expertise, expert bâtiment indépendant (06·83·13·40).