Final Municipal Reception: Deadlines, Requirements, and How to expedite the process
Is your house finished but you don't have Final Reception? We explain how to obtain the Own Role and comply with the Works Directorate (DOM).
Quick Summary
Is your house finished but you don't have Final Reception? We explain how to obtain the Own Role and comply with the Works Directorate (DOM).
Final Reception: The Milestone that Values Your Home
The Final Reception (or Definitive Work Reception) is the legal "Birth Certificate" of your property. Without it, you have a construction, but not a "house" before the law.
Why is it so critical?
- Commercial Value: A house without reception is worth, in practice, what the land is worth. Banks DO NOT appraise the construction if it is not received, so the future buyer will not be able to ask for a mortgage. You lose 70% of the resale value.
- Insurance: Fire and earthquake insurances usually have clauses requiring the construction to be regularized.
- Services: Light and water companies may deny the definitive connection if you do not exhibit this document.
Our Method to Expedite the Process
The myth says that "reception takes years." The reality is that it takes years when papers are messy or the work does not match the plan.
At Canadian Houses we apply the "Continuous Folder" strategy:
- During the work: We collect installer certificates (TE1, TC6) as work is executed, not at the end.
- Works Book: We keep the Works Book up to date, signed by the architect and builder, recording that specifications are met.
- Early Entry: We prepare the reception folder as soon as the work has 95% progress, to gain time in municipal review.
Real Times
- By Law: The DOM has 30 business days to review.
- In Practice: Between observations ("signature missing," "correct this plan") and re-entries, a healthy process takes 2 to 4 months from the end of construction.
- We take care of the "lobbying" and constant follow-up at the municipality so that your folder does not sleep on a desk.