The works are finished: handover, retentions and guarantees not to give away

Paying the final invoice the day the scaffolding comes down is giving away your only leverage. Works get closed methodically.

The formal handover

A joint walkthrough (community plus contractor, with the surveyor if there was one) reviewing the contracted scope, item by item. Result: a signed handover certificate — either accepted, or with the list of outstanding snags and their deadline.

The retention that changes everything

A standard practice communities forget to agree: hold back 5–10% of the price until handover without reservations (or for 6–12 months of guarantee). With a retention, snags get done in days; without one, "next week" forever. It is agreed BEFOREHAND, in the contract.

Legal guarantees you already have

On works with a project: 1 year on finishes, 3 years on habitability and installations, 10 years on structure. On minor repairs, the agreed guarantee plus the general one under the works contract. Defects: claimed in writing and dated (certified letter if there is resistance) — a verbal complaint neither interrupts time limits nor leaves a trace.

The works file

Into the community permanent archive: contract and final budget, handover certificate, invoices, guarantees, and before/during/after photos. Six years from now, when the doubt comes up ("wasn't this covered by the guarantee?"), that file answers in two minutes.

The rule in short

Final invoice against handover certificate; retention against snags; and everything in writing. Good firms are not offended — they expect it. The ones that are offended, better to find out early.