This is from the first Google hit:

Householder Defects Insurance - Assurance Dommages-Ouvrage
The purpose of this insurance is to ensure that, as client, you are satisfactorily protected in the event that the builder, architect or their insurance company does not accept liability for building defects.

They may deny that a defect exists or, if it does, to say that it was not part of their works or to blame a supplier, sub-contractor, architect or builder.

In these circumstances, it might take you years to obtain redress, even if you are ever able to do.

The assurance dommages-ouvrage seeks to remove all of this uncertainty by placing an obligation on your insurer to meet the costs of remedying the defect and leaving it to them to fight the battle as to who is responsible.
http://www.french-property.com/guides/france/building/new-bu...