Homeownership dreams have turned into nightmares for families like the Benahmeds and Langlois, who face stalled construction projects and financial strain. The Benahmeds invested heavily in a home that remains unfinished after two years, while the Langlois family struggles with a project halted due to an invalid guarantee. Many homeowners, alongside unpaid artisans, are banding together against a builder accused of misconduct, leading to multiple legal complaints as they seek resolution and accountability.
The Nightmare of Homeownership: A Family’s Struggle
For many, the aspiration of owning a home can quickly transform into a distressing ordeal. This has been the unfortunate reality for the Benahmed family, who in 2021 enlisted the services of Maison France Design in Évreux to construct their dream home in Aigleville, Eure. They invested a hefty sum of 120,000 euros and secured a loan of 250,000 euros, only to find that the only progress made was the emergence of concrete block walls.
“It’s been two years, and we only have walls instead of a home,” expresses Sonia, highlighting the emotional turmoil of their situation. The construction company claims that material orders have been placed and that patience is required. However, the reality is that the construction site has been dormant for months.
Sonia continues, “I dreamed of living here with my husband and children. Instead, we’re left stranded by two individuals who acted out of greed and ultimately deceived us.” She has since lodged a complaint against Maison France Design, and plans to seek another builder to complete the project.
Unfulfilled Dreams: The Langlois Family’s Dilemma
In a similar plight, Delphine and Cyril Langlois face the harsh truth that their construction project, which is even less advanced than the Benahmeds’, will not continue due to an invalid guarantee. They secured a loan of 324,000 euros, having already paid half of that amount to the builder, yet the foundations of their future home in Saint-Sébastien-de-Morsent are barely noticeable. “We were supposed to move in by July,” Cyril explains, as they now grapple with repaying their loan. “All our savings are gone, and now we have legal fees to contend with.”
Cyril adds, “We were rushed into making payments, or we risked losing our tiles and framework.” When they inquire about the delays, they are met with hostility from the builder, leaving them feeling frustrated and powerless.
Like the Langlois couple, many homeowners have united to form a collective, all awaiting the delivery of their new homes. The payment structure for such construction projects is tightly regulated by law, raising the question: how did families end up paying for nearly all the work upfront? Attorney Master Quentin André, who represents nine individuals from the Eure, explains, “We often hear excuses related to the war in Ukraine or rising costs to pressure clients into making advance payments, which is illegal.”
Moreover, the plight extends beyond just homeowners, as artisans are also left unpaid. Jonathan Fuentes, a plasterer, shared his experience: “We completed a first pavilion that was compensated, but for the second one, we’ve yet to see a single euro, totaling 7,000 euros in unpaid work.”
When contacted for comment, the company’s manager deflected blame onto a partner who has not addressed the ongoing inquiries. To date, 15 complaints alleging breach of trust, forgery, and abuse of corporate assets have been lodged with the Évreux prosecutor’s office, with investigations still underway.