Basement or floor slab - Who bears the additional costs?

Hello,

I am new here and have a question and hope someone can help me.

We signed a house construction contract with a construction company for an end-terrace house in a row of three. We immediately said that we definitely want to build with a basement. The saleswoman talked us out of the basement, arguing that the basement must be built with a white tank and would cost about 65,000 euros because the neighboring house (which at that time was not yet sold) is being built without a basement. With a basement, the middle house would be too expensive and she wouldn’t be able to sell it. However, if all the houses had taken a basement, then each basement would cost 38,000 euros.

Now my question: Is it correct that I have to bear the additional costs if my neighbor does not take a basement? We have now learned that in our neighborhood the same developer is building a house, but the basement was built by another company for 19,000 euros. Can I rely on this and also commission the basement from the other company?

Yesterday I contacted our construction company by email, but they brush us off and say we planned without a basement and that’s final.

Regards, Kathi

Hello KathiL,

if the contracts are already signed, it will be very, very difficult for you to still get a basement. It is important that you take care of this PROMPTLY NOW if the contracts are already signed. It might even be a matter for a lawyer (depending on how forcefully you want to enforce getting a basement). It would be important to know what kind of construction company you are building with (property developer, general contractor?). If nothing has been contractually agreed upon yet, you can try the following:

You also have a basement built by another company. You will bear the additional costs for the replanning and extra work. You will pay for the basement anyway, and you will only get a guarantee for this basement from your own basement builder. It gets tricky if water potentially penetrates later between the house and the basement. That drags a HUGE tail of problems for the construction company. Possibly statics, building permits, drainage, supply lines, etc. will have to be replanned and possibly put out to tender again. It all depends on how far along you are... In any case, YOU must act now and discuss this with your construction company. Ideally in a separately arranged meeting at their office. Then you have a better chance of getting it done somewhat "normally." The order "One house with basement" will no longer work now; your initiative is now required.

A white tank for an end-terrace house for €19,000 – could work, but I am very skeptical. I see something a bit above €30,000 as realistic. However, this also varies greatly regionally, and there are "basements" and "basements"... How do your future neighbors feel about a basement? Together you are always stronger in case of doubt...
A tip on the side: You write: "We immediately said, we definitely want to build with a basement" – unfortunately, that doesn’t work like that in construction. Oral promises & agreements are worthless. Written records last. This probably also applies to your foundation slab. Perhaps you could plead to have their oral promises at least honored and to talk concretely with you about the matter and adequately check the implementation. Always communicate with their managing director, not with clerks who shy away from extra work...

Hope to have helped you in the first step.

Thank you first of all for the quick response.

We had already informed the developer about the cellar by email a few weeks ago, but we were brushed off with the answer that we could build a garden shed and had two garages as storage space. One more question: is it correct that I have to bear the cost of supporting the neighboring house if the neighbors do not get a cellar? We were told then the cellar would cost 65,000. By the way, the buyer of the middle house was told they could not have a cellar because we signed the house construction contract first and definitely did not want a cellar. I already sent an email to the saleswoman of the construction company yesterday, but she is making excuses. The building application has already been submitted. But I think that can still be changed at a cost, right?

So if really 2 houses of a row of three want a basement, then the chance of getting a basement has at least not decreased.

So get on the phone and schedule an appointment with all parties involved (asap), so that not even more unnecessary time passes.

For your developer, this is certainly not a comfortable situation now – but if it was agreed verbally, you should insist on it firmly and calmly point out that the sales lie has been exposed. Dwelling on it doesn’t make sense, but then demand that a house be built that you are satisfied with – after all, you chose this company for that reason and not another. Maybe appealing a little to their pride will still work. Then it might be possible to also discuss with the developer what kind of basement is ideal, who will make the redesigns (already just where to place the basement staircase, who will make these plans, what about the supply lines, does the utility room still make sense in that place in the house...) or whether they can still make a reasonable offer for a basement...

Costs will definitely be incurred by you in any case. However, these will not be insignificant. I hope you are that flexible in your financing...

Best regards