Liability during renovations: who pays for the damage?

Questioner

Soon a renovation will be carried out on our house by a contractor, piles will be driven in. My neighbor has a pond full of (very expensive) koi carp and is afraid that they will die because of the pile driving. Of course nobody wants this, but pile driving will have to take place anyway. Suppose a fish dies, who is liable? I, the contractor or the pile driver?

Lawyer

You are the client of the renovation and are liable if this causes damage to other people's property, even if this is caused by work carried out by the contractor. You must therefore work with the contractor to find a solution to prevent damage. It is also advisable to contact your insurer to see whether this damage is insured or not. I know from my own experience that the costs of Koi carp are also very expensive fish and can certainly run into thousands of euros if they are special specimens. If you are not insured, you would have to pay for the costs yourself.

Lawyer

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