Almost every new-build home has snags. Around 94% of new builds have at least some, and that’s a normal part of building. The difference between a smooth first year and a stressful one comes down to two things: catching the snags properly, and getting the builder to put them right inside the timeframes you’re entitled to. This guide walks you through both.
A snag is any part of your new home that hasn’t been finished properly or doesn’t work as it should. They range from cosmetic (paint runs, chipped tiles, filler showing) to functional (a leaking tap, a radiator that won’t heat, a door that won’t close) to, more rarely, structural (something affecting the fabric or safety of the building). Cosmetic and functional snags are the builder’s to fix; structural issues fall under your warranty too. None of them mean you bought a bad house — but all of them are worth logging.
Under the New Homes Quality Code your builder must give you the chance to inspect the finished home before you legally complete — this is the Pre-Completion Inspection. You can do it yourself using the free, official NHQB PCI checklist (there are separate house and apartment versions), which even sets out how to check each element. It’s your best chance to get defects logged before the builder has your money. Ask for the inspection in writing.
On the day you get the keys, do a slow, methodical walk-through with the checklist below. Take dated photos of everything, even small things. Test every switch, tap, window and door. Note it all — you can add to it, but a strong day-one record is gold.
Some snags only show once you’re living there — a door that sticks as timber settles, a radiator that won’t balance, a draught you feel on a cold night. Keep a running list for the first few weeks and report them together where you can.
The builder is responsible for putting right defects reported in your first two years. Well before that window closes, do a final thorough sweep and report anything outstanding in writing — after two years, cover narrows to major structural issues under your warranty, and the cost of smaller fixes can shift to you.
You can absolutely snag your own home — the checklist below covers most of what to look for, and a careful owner finds a lot. But a professional snagging inspector brings trained eyes, moisture meters and thermal cameras, and — crucially — knows how to reference each defect against the specific standard it breaches. Many owners do both: their own walk-through on day one, and a professional survey in the first weeks.
Free, and you know your home best. Work slowly, in daylight, with the checklist and a phone for dated photos. Best for cosmetic and obvious functional snags.
Typically £300–£600 depending on size (roughly £250–£340 for a flat, £350–£400 for a standard 3-bed, more for larger homes). You get a detailed, professional report — one of the strongest pieces of evidence you can hand the builder. See our guide on how to choose a snagging inspector.
A builder can dismiss “the paint looks a bit rough” as a matter of opinion. What they can’t easily argue with is a report that ties each snag to the specific standard it fails — the relevant NHBC standard, building regulation or the tolerances in your warranty provider’s technical guidance. A good snagging inspector writes their report exactly this way, so every item reads as a measurable breach, not a preference. That single difference is often what gets fixes done quickly instead of dragging on.
When you send your list to the builder, quote those references back to them — it signals you know where you stand, and it makes their after-sales team’s job (and yours) far simpler.
Not exhaustive — a professional survey goes deeper — but it covers the snags most owners find. For the official version, the NHQB publishes a free Homeowner Guide to Snagging.
Under the New Homes Quality Code, most after-sales snags should be resolved within 30 calendar days. If the builder can’t, they should tell you why before that window closes.
If a complaint you raised isn’t resolved, you can escalate it to the New Homes Ombudsman after 56 days — for homes covered by the code, in the first two years.
The builder is responsible for putting right defects you report in the first two years after legal completion. This is the window that matters most for snagging.
Your structural warranty (e.g. NHBC Buildmark) covers major structural defects for up to ten years — narrower cover, for serious problems, after the builder’s two years.
When you review your builder on Rate My New Build, you build a dated record of what you reported and how they responded — the single most useful thing to have if you ever escalate. It’s free, anonymous, and it helps the next buyer see how a builder really handles snags before they commit.
Put it on the record — good or bad. Free, anonymous, a few minutes.
Review your builderGeneral information, not legal advice, and it doesn’t override your warranty terms or contract. Code timeframes, warranties and which route covers your home depend on your builder’s registration — check your own paperwork and the current New Homes Quality Board guidance, or take professional advice if in doubt. Snag survey prices are typical ranges and vary by provider and property.