Ten-year liability and provisional acceptance

The contractor invites you in writing to inspect the property, and you must respond to this invitation. During the visit, you examine all visible elements with the contractor: walls, floors, ceilings, windows, doors, sanitary fixtures, electrical systems, and heating. All findings are recorded in a provisional acceptance report that lists identified defects and repair deadlines. Upon signing the report, you typically receive the keys and formally accept the property in its current condition. From this moment, the risks transfer to you and several legal deadlines begin.

No, you are not required to pay the final installment BEFORE Provisional Acceptance, and it's not recommended. The Breyne Law distinguishes between the physical visit during which defects are identified and the financial matter. Developers typically violate this rule by demanding payment before acceptance. At EXPERT4U, we explain how to proceed with the acceptance and key handover while ensuring the necessary guarantees are delivered.

We apply transparent pricing with a fixed rate for Brussels, including all fees and transportation, from order placement through one year after for provisional acceptance. Our prices are market-standard with no hidden fees or unexpected supplements. A 10% or 20% discount is applied to the fee when multiple inspections can be performed in the same building. We also offer a free initial consultation to answer your initial questions.

For a ten-year period, the company is responsible for defects that compromise the building's stability or its essential elements. Provisional Acceptance marks the beginning of this ten-year liability in most contracts. If a defect appears after work approval and isn't covered by ten-year liability, you can in some cases invoke the company's liability for minor hidden defects. This guarantee protects your investment long-term.

Provisional Acceptance marks the end of construction and allows detection of visible defects during inspection with the contractor. This is when you receive the keys and the risk transfer occurs in your favor. Final Acceptance takes place approximately one year later to verify that all reported defects have been corrected. It constitutes complete and final acceptance of the work, after which only serious defects covered by ten-year liability can still be invoked.

We assist individual buyers of houses or apartments as well as condominiums under property management. This includes the private visit of your unit and provisional acceptance of common areas. EXPERT4U operates exclusively in Brussels and works with EXPERTNOW in Flanders to offer comprehensive service across Belgian territory. We work in French, Dutch, and English.

An expert who masters both technical and legal aspects can identify less obvious defects that only a professional eye detects. At EXPERT4U, we even check for scratches on glazing before sunlight reveals them, because what isn't documented becomes difficult to claim later. With thousands of successful inspections completed, we've become a reference in Belgium and verify all technical elements according to BUILDWISE standards. We protect you against future issues by ensuring sufficient guarantees remain in place after acceptance. If necessary, we accompany you to court with a rigorously prepared case.