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.