Is there a guarantee on the work?
ga-ran-TSEE-a — four syllables; stress the third; 'z' makes a 'ts' sound.
Use this before signing off on a completed job or agreeing to start work. Italian consumer law provides guarantees on services, but having an explicit guarantee discussed and agreed upon creates clearer expectations.
Garanzia sul lavoro (guarantee on work) under Italian law (Codice del Consumo) gives consumers the right to repair, redo, or price reduction if the work is defective. The legal minimum is 2 years. For construction and significant installations, the Codice Civile (Art. 1667-1669) provides stronger protections against serious defects. Always ask for the guarantee period explicitly.
Quanti anni di garanzia offre?
How many years of guarantee do you offer?
Professional tradespeople often offer 1-5 years on their work depending on the type of job.
Se il problema si ripresenta, torna gratuitamente?
If the problem comes back, do you come back for free?
Practical clarification of what the guarantee actually covers in practice.
Può mettere la garanzia per iscritto nel contratto?
Can you put the guarantee in writing in the contract?
The safest approach; a written guarantee has legal standing in Italian courts.
Italian law provides consumers with some of Europe's strongest protections for construction defects. Article 1669 of the Codice Civile creates a 10-year liability period for structural defects in buildings (rovina e difetti di immobili). This means a builder who creates a structural problem can be sued up to 10 years later. The action itself must be brought within one year of the defect becoming evident.