During the Nine Days, does a house under construction have to be postponed? Should one tell his contractor to stop? Does it make a difference if he(contractor) is Jewish or not?
What about a house being renovated?
What are the appropriate sources ?
Is there a difference in minhag for Sphardim and Ashkenazim?
Answer:
If the house is being constructed or renovated for required living space, and not for “luxury” purposes, there is no need to stop. If it is for “luxury” purposes, one should not renovate in the Nine Days, but if there will be a monetary loss, it is permitted to continue.
For Sephardim, the halachah is more lenient, until the week of Tisha Be’Av, which does not apply this year (since Tisha Be’Av is on Sunday).
Sources:
The Gemara (Yevamos 43a) writes that one must refrain from “construction of joy” (a wedding house) from the beginning of Av.
The Mishnah Berurah explains that any construction not necessary for one’s dwelling, but performed for expansion, is prohibited (551:12). Similarly, an improvement to the appearance of a house such as painting, hanging new drapes, wall papering and all house decorating cannot be done during the Nine Days (see Piskei Teshuvos).
See also Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 122:7.
