Legal assistance with construction problems - Legal aid centre

Questioner

In March 2017 I signed the purchase contract for my yet to be built home. At that time I was told that almost 70% of the homes had already been sold (the minimum that had to be sold before construction could start). The last buyer still had to go to the notary and then construction could start. According to the initial planning, my home should be ready in the first quarter of 2018. When I signed my purchase contract, this had already become the second quarter of 2018. In the meantime, it has been more than a year later and I have heard that my home will not be delivered until the end of August/beginning of September 2019. So a year and a half later than planned. The brochure states that construction would take 14 months, so I assumed that from the start of construction (January 17, 2018) it would take 14 months. In this case, my home should be delivered March 17, 2018. Unfortunately this is not correct and I will be without my own home for a long time and have been paying double housing costs for a year now (for my house that is yet to be built and the house I am currently living in). Is there a possibility of compensation for this long wait until completion and the double costs?

Lawyer

The contractor must comply with the agreements regarding the construction time from the purchase contract. If this is not possible and this is attributable to him, then in principle there is a right to compensation as stated in the contract. With regard to the double housing costs, you will demonstrate that you have suffered damage because you would have sold the house quickly or less quickly. In short, I advise you to hold the contractor liable. If you cannot reach an agreement, then I will look into your case.