‘We trusted local artisan’: Dordogne couple left with ruined home amid €37,000 roof deposit dispute

A retired couple in Dordogne say they have been unable to return to their home after work to repair their fire-damaged roof went wrong, leaving them facing major additional damage and a legal battle to recover a €37,000 deposit paid to an artisan. 

Christiane and Alex Pelandakis moved to Lanouaille in December 2022 hoping to enjoy a quiet retirement. Their plans changed in December 2024, when a fire damaged their three-level home.  

The couple’s insurer agreed to cover the repairs. According to documents from the case, they received an insurance payment of around €110,000 following the incident.

They then hired a local artisan to restore the roof. A quotation dated January 24, 2025 set the cost of the roofing work at around €123,000. The couple agreed and signed the quote and paid a €37,000 deposit two days later. 

However, the couple says the planned work never progressed beyond a limited intervention. 

“After the fire, there was not that much damage,” Christiane Pelandakis told The Connexion. “The problem was that the artisan who covered the roof (temporary roof covering) did it badly. The house was exposed to rain for a year and a half, and the damage became much worse.” 

She says water entered the property, causing extensive deterioration. 

“All the ceilings fell down and everything became damaged. At the beginning it was not like that. The house became uninhabitable because of the additional damage.” 

According to the Tribunal judiciaire de Périgueux, the artisan carried out five days of work in July 2025, mainly involving demolition work, but the couple says the roofing repairs themselves were not completed.

After repeated attempts to contact the contractor, the couple began formal proceedings.

“I went to his house but I could not find him,” Mrs Pelandakis said. “His neighbour told me he would never come back to do the roof. I then sent registered letters giving him 15 days to respond, otherwise I would use another company.”

After the couple sent several registered letters requesting that the work begin or that the deposit be returned. They then took the matter to court.

The court order ruled in their favour in February in a référé procedure (fast court procedure when a person needs a judge to make an urgent decision).

The judge noted that the couple had signed the roofing quotation and paid the €37,000 deposit, and that the contractor had not demonstrated that he had carried out the contracted work.

The court ordered the artisan to pay the couple a €20,000 provision “to be deducted from the full repayment of the deposit”. 

Despite the ruling, the couple say they have not yet recovered the money.

“For the moment, we have received nothing. The problem is that until we get this money back, we cannot continue the work,” Ms Pelandakis said.

The insurer eventually arranged for another company to replace the roof, but the couple says the missing deposit remains a major obstacle.

For this reason, they have launched a fundraising campaign to help cover costs.

Things to check before hiring a professional 

While every situation is different, there are some steps that property owners can take to reduce risks. 

First of all, it is essential to always ask for a detailed quote before work begins called a devis. This is because in France the devis is not only an estimate of how much it will cost but a contractual agreement signed by both parties. 

It should include the work that is going to be carried out, the materials, the total price, expected timeframe and the period that the offer remains valid. This step is very important as a vague quote can make disputes harder to resolve. 

Another thing is to check the builder’s insurance before signing. For many building works, particularly those affecting the structure of a property, professionals must have a garantie décennale. 

This insurance covers some serious defects if they appear within 10 years after formal sign-off of the work. 

Homeowners should ask for a copy of the builder’s attestation d’assurance décennale before work starts and check: that the company name matches the contractor carrying out the work, the insurance covers the type of work planned and the policy was and is going to be valid on the date the project begins. 

It is also common in France for tradespeople to request an advance payment (deposit) before starting work, especially when it comes to large projects. However, you should avoid paying large sums without safeguards.  

Safeguards include agreeing payment stages according to the progress and ensuring that your payments correspond to these stages, avoiding paying the full cost before work is completed, and keeping copies of all invoices.

There is generally no fixed legal percentage for the deposit, but in practice a request of 20% to 30% of the total cost is not unusual. 

Finally, you should research the company before hiring them. Ideally you should check how long the business has existed, whether it is registered (SIRET number), customer reviews, previous projects, professional qualifications, and if possible references from previous clients. 

What to do if a builder disappears 

If an artisan stops coming to the site or stops responding, homeowners should act quickly.

The recommended first step is usually to contact the professional in writing and request that work resumes.

If there is no response, a formal letter known as a mise en demeure should be sent by registered post (lettre recommandée avec avis de réception). Here is an example. 

Homeowners should also consider arranging a report by a commissaire de justice (formerly a bailiff) to document the state of the property. Photographs, invoices, emails and messages should all be retained.

Depending on the circumstances, legal action may be necessary before hiring another company to finish the work.