A central protection in the **CCMI** (Contrat de Construction de Maison Individuelle) is a mandatory guarantee that must be verified before starting a construction site. This guarantee is part of the contract that includes the provision of plans, and the justification for it must be included in the contract along with a certificate issued by the guarantor. Even in a **CCMI** without plans, a guarantee is required, as outlined in Article L232-1 of the Code of Construction and Housing. The certificate must clearly identify the constructor, project owner, site location, and the specific contract being guaranteed. A ten-year insurance certificate is not a substitute for this document. This verification ensures that the project owner knows which organization to contact if the construction runs into issues. The guarantor must be a credit institution, a financing company, or an insurance company approved for this role. The guarantee is effective from the start of the construction and covers the risks of non-performance or poor performance of the contractual work, even before the constructor faces financial difficulties. Its use is not limited to the constructor's bankruptcy, and the project owner can request the guarantor’s intervention if there are delays or missing work that prevent the completion of the project. However, the failure must be documented, and it is important to distinguish a real breach of contract from a justified interruption or disputes over services not covered by the contract. Under Article L231-6 of the Code of Construction and Housing, the guarantee covers three main items: the additional costs needed to complete the house, the consequences of the constructor's actions that caused an advance payment or price increase, and the penalties for delays exceeding thirty days. For the additional costs, a deductible may apply, up to 5% of the agreed price. However, this is not automatic and only applies to specific sums claimed. The owner is still responsible for paying the remaining balance of the price due. The guarantee aims to ensure the house is completed despite the constructor's failure, according to the legal rules for covering extra costs. Penalties for delays must be calculated precisely. According to Article R231-14, the penalty cannot be less than 1/3,000 of the agreed price per day of delay. For a construction costing 240,000 euros, this minimum is 80 euros per day or 2,400 euros for thirty days. The calculation requires identifying the contractual delivery date and any possible extensions that could affect the deadline. Informal agreements are not sufficient to change the deadline, and any reasons for an extension must be evaluated in light of the contract and applicable regulations. It is also important to distinguish the penalties owed to the constructor from those covered by the guarantor. A complete file must be submitted to the guarantor, including the **CCMI** and its annexes, the delivery guarantee certificate, documents proving the start of the construction and the delivery deadline, payment records, reminders, photographs, and acceptance minutes. If the project owner reports a delay or unresolved issues, the guarantor must request the constructor to fulfill its obligations. If the constructor fails to act within fifteen days, the guarantor must intervene under legal conditions and appoint a third party to complete the work. Once the house is waterproofed, the guarantor may propose directly concluding the completion contract with the owner, but this requires the owner’s agreement. Before hiring a replacement company independently, it is important to clarify with the guarantor the terms of the work and financing. The acceptance and reservations are critical moments. The guarantee does not necessarily end with the handover of the keys. According to Article L231-6, the guarantee ceases after the written acceptance and, if applicable, after the eight-day period or once the reservations are resolved. If the owner is not assisted by a professional at the acceptance, they can report any apparent defects not previously noted in a registered letter within eight days of the handover. These reservations must clearly describe the issues and missing services, and the owner must keep proof of their notification and inform the guarantor if the constructor fails to make corrections. Vague statements like "subject to the proper functioning" may lead to disputes over the actual defects. Although the delivery guarantee is an important protection, its scope is limited. It is not meant to cover all consequences of disputes. A ruling from April 13, 2023, by the Court of Cassation clarified that the guarantor is not required to cover damages unrelated to the cost of completing the house, such as moving expenses or the cost of temporary housing. The project owner must distinguish the works and penalties covered by the guarantee from other potential claims. If the guarantor refuses to intervene, the owner should examine the reasons and the documents to determine the appropriate legal action. The priority is to make the failure incontestable and to request specific commitments from the guarantor: the work to be done, the responsible company, the financing, and the schedule. Only under these conditions can the delivery guarantee fulfill its purpose: ensuring the actual completion of the house.