Should you pay a tradesman up front? Deposits, staged payments and traps in Morocco
Updated 2026-10-30
"Give me an advance for the materials and I'll start tomorrow." Anyone who has had work done in Morocco has heard this line. A deposit (acompte in French, tasbiq in Darija) is not unusual: the tradesman has to buy cement, pipes or paint before he earns a dirham. But paying too much, too early, is also the main cause of abandoned jobs and disputes, especially when you manage a property from abroad. This guide explains what a reasonable deposit looks like, how to split payment into stages, when to pay cash or by transfer, and what to do if the tradesman vanishes with the money.
Deposit, advance, down payment: what are we talking about?
In everyday speech people say "avance" or "tasbiq". In practice it is almost always a deposit: part of the price paid at the start and deducted from the total. In Morocco, a contract with a tradesman falls under the hire of work (louage d'ouvrage) rules of the Code of Obligations and Contracts (DOC), which sets a simple principle: the tradesman undertakes to deliver the work, you undertake to pay the agreed price. No law fixes a deposit percentage: it is a matter of agreement between you.
What matters is that the deposit is written down: amount, date, what it covers (materials, start of work) and the balance remaining. Even a WhatsApp message with the amount and a photo of the receipt is better than nothing.
What amount is reasonable?
There is no official rule, but practice gives some benchmarks:
- Small repair (leak, socket, blocked drain): no advance. You pay at the end, once the problem is fixed and tested
- Job of a few days (painting a flat, laying tiles): a deposit covering the materials the tradesman buys for you, often around 20 to 30% of the total
- Large job (full bathroom, renovation, masonry): staged payments, each instalment paid when a visible stage is finished
- Never 100% up front, whatever the story. A serious tradesman does not ask for it
- Better still: buy the main materials yourself (tiles, sanitaryware, paint) or pay the supplier directly. The tradesman then only handles labour
A simple schedule that protects both sides
For a bathroom renovation, for example, a common split looks like this:
- On signing the quote (devis): deposit for materials, 20 to 30%
- After demolition and the concealed plumbing (before the walls are closed): second instalment, 30 to 40%
- After tiling and fitting the sanitaryware: third instalment
- On handover, once everything is tested (water, drains, electrics, finishes): the balance, often 10 to 20%
- Always keep a final instalment for handover: it is your only lever to get defects corrected
Cash, bank transfer or cheque?
In Morocco most independent tradesmen work in cash, and for a small repair that is normal. For a large job, prefer a bank transfer or mobile payment: you keep a record of every instalment, which is useful in a dispute and essential if you are paying from abroad. Since 2017 the tax authority has fined the seller or service provider who takes cash for a transaction of 20,000 MAD or more, at 6% of the amount; the tradesman is the one targeted, but it is one more reason to offer a transfer on big sums. Companies, for their part, can only deduct 5,000 MAD per day and per supplier paid in cash.
Whatever the method, ask for a receipt for each payment, even handwritten, with the tradesman's name, the date, the amount and what it covers. Photograph it.
Warning signs
- A deposit requested before he has even seen the job or given a price
- A very high percentage "because materials are expensive", with no materials list or supplier invoice
- Refusal to write the deposit amount on the quote or in WhatsApp
- A request for a further advance when the previous instalment produced no visible result
- A very low overall price offset by a very high deposit: the risk is that the job is never finished
The tradesman took the deposit and does not come back: what now?
Start by chasing him in writing (WhatsApp), restating the amount paid and the promised date: this creates evidence. If he stops answering, you can file a complaint for breach of trust (abus de confiance) or take the case to the court of first instance to recover the money, relying on the quote, receipts and messages. For small amounts, the cost and time of proceedings often exceed what is at stake, which is why prevention (limited deposit, staged payments, materials bought by you) remains the best protection. If you live abroad, a trusted relative or a local lawyer can act for you.
If the work was done but done badly, the DOC makes the tradesman liable for defects in his work. Report them in writing before paying the balance.
Choose a tradesman who does not need everything up front
A tradesman who already has clients and references does not demand a large advance: he knows he will be paid. On aloaji.ma, search for the trade you need (plombier, électricien, peintre, maçon, carreleur, menuisier) in your city and call or WhatsApp directly, free of charge. Read the reviews left by other clients and ask for a recent reference. Profiles marked "Non vérifié" are businesses found through their own website that AloAji has not yet checked: with them, keep the deposit even smaller and buy the materials yourself.
FAQ
What deposit percentage is normal for building work in Morocco?
There is no legal rule. In practice a deposit covering materials, often around 20 to 30%, is common for a job of several days. For a small repair you pay at the end.
Can a tradesman demand 50% or more up front?
He can ask, nothing forbids it, but you do not have to accept. Offer instead to buy the materials yourself and pay for labour in stages.
Do I need a receipt for the deposit?
Yes, for every payment: tradesman's name, date, amount and what it covers, even handwritten. A WhatsApp message confirming the amount also counts as evidence.
Is it legal to pay a tradesman in cash?
Yes for a private individual. But for transactions of 20,000 MAD or more, the tax authority fines the service provider who takes cash (6% penalty). For large jobs, a bank transfer protects everyone.
What if the tradesman disappears with the deposit?
Chase in writing, then file a complaint for breach of trust or go to court with the quote, receipts and messages. For small amounts, prevention remains the best protection.
When should I make the final payment?
Only at handover, after testing everything and having visible defects corrected. Keep 10 to 20% for this stage.