Individual house construction contract (CCMI)
A contract regulated by the law of 19 December 1990 governing the construction of a detached house on land owned by the client. It provides strict consumer protection: fixed final price, guaranteed delivery deadline, and a completion guarantee at agreed price and schedule underwritten by the builder. Associated financing typically involves progressive disbursements against certified completion milestones.
Key points
- The price is fixed and final from the moment the contract is signed.
- The builder must take out a completion guarantee at the agreed price and schedule.
- The client acts as project owner and already owns (or simultaneously buys) the land.
- Financing is disbursed by stages similar to VEFA, generating interim interest.
Frequently asked questions
What legal guarantees are mandatory with a CCMI?
The builder must provide a completion guarantee (underwritten by an insurer or bank), a one-year defect remedy guarantee after acceptance, a two-year warranty on detachable equipment, and a ten-year structural defect insurance. These guarantees are statutory; no contract can exclude them.
How does bank financing work for a CCMI?
The bank releases the loan through successive drawdowns on presentation of a certified progress report signed by the builder and sometimes an independent project manager. The borrower pays interim interest on disbursed amounts, then switches to full amortization at construction acceptance. The land is often financed separately beforehand.
What is the practical difference between a CCMI with and without provision of plans?
In a CCMI with provision of plans, the builder designs the house and manages all construction. In a CCMI without provision of plans, the client supplies architect-designed plans and the builder only handles execution. Both variants benefit from the same statutory protective framework.
In practice
A couple buys land in Normandy for €80,000 and signs a CCMI for €180,000 to build their home. Total project cost is €260,000, financed by a €30,000 deposit and a €230,000 mortgage released in six tranches.
Official sources
- Which contract to build your house? · Service-Public.gouv.fr
- Sale agreement and loan condition precedent · Service-Public.gouv.fr
- Housing and financing information · ANIL