French Civil Code

Where an architect or contractor has undertaken the fixed-price construction of a building, according to a plan drawn up and agreed with the owner of the land, he may not demand any increase in price, either under the pretext of an increase in labour or materials, or under that of changes or increases made to that plan, if such changes or increases have not been authorised in writing, and the…

The master may terminate, by his sole will, the fixed-price contract, even though the work has already begun, by compensating the contractor for all his expenses, all his work, and all that he could have gained in this undertaking.

The contract for the hire of work is dissolved by the death of the workman, architect or contractor.

But the owner is bound to pay in proportion to the price carried by the agreement, to their estate, the value of the works made and that of the materials prepared, only when such works or materials can be useful to him.

The entrepreneur is liable for the fact of the people he employs.

Bricklayers, carpenters and other workmen who have been employed in the construction of a building or other works made for the company, have no action against the person for whom the works were made, except to the extent of what he is indebted to the contractor for, at the time when their action is brought.

Bricklayers, carpenters, locksmiths and other workmen who make contracts directly at prices made, are subject to the rules prescribed in this section: they are contractors in the part they deal with.

The project owner who concludes a private works contract referred to in 3° of Article 1779 must guarantee the contractor payment of the sums due when these exceed a threshold set by decree in the Conseil d’Etat. When the client has recourse to a specific loan to finance the works, the credit institution may not pay the amount of the loan to a person other than those mentioned in 3°…