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Estimates must be realistic
An architect engaged to oversee renovation work in a home as a maître d’oeuvre must provide an accurate estimate of the cost, France’s top appeal court has confirmed.
One architect was obliged by the Montpellier appeal court to compensate clients after the €813,464 bill for renovation works in their house far exceeded the initial €458,042 estimate (both before VAT).
He then lost a further appeal to the Cour de Cassation and was told to pay the clients’ additional €3,000 costs.
The court said that an estimate should be accurate, though a variation of up to 10% was admissible.
The compensation payment was not for the full amount, due to luxurious additional items the homeowners asked for during the works.
