Construction Completion

All building permits must be closed with final inspections approved. The use permit must be issued by the Municipal Council before occupation. The warranty for construction defects is 5 years (art. 1225 of the Civil Code), counted from handover.

1. Request copies of all permits and check the status of final inspections

2. Confirm the issuance of the use permit by the Municipal Council

3. Obtain all conformity certificates and inspection reports

4. Request the Energy Certificate — mandatory for new buildings

5. Check the warranty conditions and the acceptance date on the certificate

- Use permit not issued at the time of handover

- Incomplete inspection reports for certain trades

- Energy Certificate not prepared or not matching the actual construction

- Imprecise warranty conditions in the construction contract

- Building permit conditions not fully met

Finished surfaces must be free of visible defects observed from a normal standing position under standard lighting. Paint, flooring, skirting boards, worktops and fittings must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and good workmanship.

1. Inspect all painted surfaces: coverage, runs, roller marks and colour uniformity

2. Check flooring: scratches, joints, creaking, transitions and correct installation

3. Check skirting boards and mouldings: correct fit, tight joints and uniform alignment

4. Test all fittings: taps, light points, switches, sockets, ironmongery and locks

5. Open and close all doors and windows — they should operate smoothly without binding

- Paint defects inside cupboards, behind doors and at wall-ceiling junctions

- Floor scratches caused by construction traffic after installation

- Poorly fitted skirting boards and mouldings with visible gaps

- Cupboard doors and drawers misaligned or not closing properly

- Windows not sealing correctly or defective ironmongery

All building services (heating, ventilation, electrical, plumbing) must be fully operational and have passed the final inspection. Electrical installations must comply with the RTIEBT. Heating systems must be operational and balanced.

1. Test each socket with a tester — check correct wiring and RCD protection

2. Turn on the heating and check heat output in each room

3. Run all sanitary appliances simultaneously and check for leaks

4. Flush all toilets and check correct filling and drainage

5. Test mechanical ventilation, extractor fans, doorbell, smoke and CO detectors

- Sockets without power due to missing connections or tripped RCDs

- Unbalanced heating — rooms too hot or too cold

- Leaks at connections, especially under sinks and behind toilets

- Smoke detectors not connected or missing in mandatory rooms

- Mechanical ventilation not achieving design airflow rates

External works must be completed in accordance with the contract and building permit conditions. The ground must be graded to direct water away from the building. Landscaping, access roads, paths and fences must match the contractual description.

1. Check that the ground slopes away from the building on all sides to prevent water accumulation

2. Inspect access roads and paths: quality of finish, gradients and water drainage

3. Check that landscaping matches the contract (lawns, planting, fences)

4. Check external render, cladding or masonry: integrity and absence of defects

5. Inspect all external sealants at windows, doors and service penetrations

- Inadequate drainage with water pooling against the building

- External works incomplete or deficient at handover

- External sealants missing allowing air and water infiltration

- Render or cladding damaged during construction and not repaired

- Fences and boundaries incomplete or not matching the design

The builder must hand over at completion all manufacturer warranties, insurance policies and maintenance instructions. The Civil Code provides a 5-year warranty for construction defects (art. 1225). All documentation must be compiled in a handover file.

1. Collect all manufacturer warranties for appliances, boiler/heat pump, windows and equipment

2. Obtain construction insurance documentation and liabilities

3. Request operating and maintenance manuals for all building services

4. Document all model and serial numbers for key equipment

5. Confirm the defect reporting procedure and builder's response timescales

- Manufacturer warranties missing (not registered by installer)

- Construction insurance documentation not provided

- Maintenance manuals not handed over for heating or ventilation systems

- Warranty start date disputed (acceptance vs. handover vs. occupation)

- Defect claim procedure not clearly defined