ᐅ Subsequent structural engineering changes / additional costs

Hello,
we have signed a consumer construction contract with a house building company. The contract includes a clause stating that additional costs may arise due to ordered measures related to the building permit / planning permission or the structural engineering calculations.

We replaced the wooden staircase of the standard house model we selected with a concrete staircase. The seller initially offered this change for an additional price of about 200€ (approximately $220) and it was included in the contract before signing. After the contract was signed, the structural engineer completed the calculations, and the building application and permit were approved, the house builder now wants to charge extra for additional work due to the structural requirements. The ceiling between the ground floor and first floor is supposed to be changed from 18cm (7 inches) to 22cm (9 inches) because of the staircase. This change is quoted to cost around 1000€ (about $1100). That is five times the original 200€. Is something like this legally justified? Where is the limit in such cases?

Thank you for your answers.

I would say the 200 euros were just the additional cost to replace the staircase.
We also paid the extra 1000 euros for the structural engineer because we needed a thicker foundation slab due to the pile foundation.

Tina mit K schrieb:

I would say the 200 euros was just the additional cost for replacing the staircase.
We also paid the extra 1,000 euros for the structural engineer because we needed a stronger foundation slab due to the pile foundation.

Yes, clearly the 200 euros was for the replacement. But it can’t be that the whole process ends up actually costing 1,200 euros afterward. That amount should be included in the price tag from the start. Or shouldn’t it?

Citrus91 schrieb:

Yes, sure, the replacement cost was €200. But it can’t be that the whole process actually ends up costing €1200 afterward. That price should be clearly stated on the label from the start. Or not?

No. The structural engineer is mentioned. Additional cost.

But that is possible. Depending on what is included in your scope of work description. Often there is something like "changes to the floor plan may result in additional costs for structural engineering" or something along those lines.

Of course, you should have been informed that a heavy staircase would affect the structural calculations, but very few sellers actually do that...

HilfeHilfe schrieb:

No. The structural engineer is mentioned. Additional cost.

Sure, but there must be a financial limit. It can’t be that I buy a house for amount X, and later the structural engineer comes and says everything that still needs to be done, turning amount X into 5 times the price.

In my opinion, there is a 10% rule for tradesmen invoices. An invoice may only deviate from the quote by 10%. There must be similar rules in our case. There has to be a limit.