Independent ranking — no paid placements

New Build Snagging Checklist: What to Check and Your NHBC Rights

Last updated:

Quick answer

A 'snag' is a fault or unfinished piece of work in a new-build home — anything from poorly-fitted doors and patchy paintwork to plumbing leaks or external defects. A snagging list is the record of these faults that you give the developer to put right, ideally before you complete or as soon as possible after moving in. Most new homes are covered by a 10-year warranty (commonly NHBC Buildmark): the first two years are the developer's own defects-liability period, when they must fix snags, and years 3–10 are structural cover. New builds in England and Wales are also covered by the New Homes Quality Code / Consumer Code, which gives you rights and a complaints route. Check the property thoroughly room by room, inside and out, and report snags in writing.

The 2026 ranking

#ServicePriceEntry tierCoverageBest forLink
1Inspect and snag before / at completionDIY free; pro snagging inspection ~£300–£600—The whole property, inside and outCatching the maximum number of defects while the builder is on the hookVisit
2Report snags in writing to the developerFree—Your developer's defects-liability obligationsGetting snags formally logged and fixedVisit
3Use the NHBC Buildmark warrantyIncluded with the home (developer pays)—Most UK new builds — 10-year structural + early defects coverDefects the developer won't fix, and later structural problemsVisit
4Escalate via the New Homes Quality Code / Consumer CodeFree—New builds reserved/bought under the relevant codeWhen the developer and warranty route stallVisit

How we ranked these

We set out a room-by-room snagging approach and rank the snagging steps by priority for a new-build buyer, alongside the warranty and consumer-protection framework that backs your right to have snags fixed. Facts are grounded in NHBC Buildmark warranty terms, the New Homes Quality Board / New Homes Quality Code and the Consumer Code for Home Builders. General guidance — your warranty documents set out the exact terms for your home.

Detailed reviews

#1

Inspect and snag before / at completion

DIY free; pro snagging inspection ~£300–£600

The single most valuable step is a thorough inspection, ideally before you complete or immediately after. Go room by room and check: walls and ceilings for cracks and poor paintwork; doors and windows for alignment, sealing and easy operation; floors for level and finish; kitchens and bathrooms for sealant, tiling and leaks; sockets, switches, taps, radiators and the boiler; and outside, check brickwork, render, guttering, drainage, the roof line, the driveway and the garden. Many buyers pay a professional snagging inspector (typically £300–£600) to produce a detailed list. Photograph everything.

Pros

  • Catches the most defects while the developer is obliged to fix them
  • A professional snagger finds issues an untrained eye misses
  • Photographic evidence strengthens your case

Cons

  • Some developers resist a pre-completion inspection — know your rights
  • A professional inspection is an added (though often worthwhile) cost
#2

Report snags in writing to the developer

Free

Send your snagging list to the developer in writing (email, so there's a record), with photographs and clear descriptions. During the developer's defects period — typically the first two years under an NHBC Buildmark warranty — they are responsible for fixing defects that breach the warranty standards. Keep a log of what you reported and when, and chase in writing. Reporting early and clearly is the difference between snags being fixed promptly and them dragging on.

Pros

  • Creates a dated written record of every reported defect
  • Triggers the developer's defects-period obligations
  • Written evidence helps if you later need to escalate

Cons

  • Relies on the developer responding — keep chasing
  • You must report within the warranty's timeframes
#3

Use the NHBC Buildmark warranty

Included with the home (developer pays)

Most new homes carry a 10-year warranty, commonly NHBC Buildmark (other providers exist). It typically has two phases: the first two years, when the builder must put right defects that breach NHBC standards, and years 3–10, which provide structural cover. If the developer fails to fix a valid first-two-years snag, NHBC offers a resolution service and can step in. Read your warranty documents so you know exactly what is covered and the timeframes for claiming.

Pros

  • Backs your right to have qualifying defects fixed
  • Resolution service if the developer won't co-operate
  • Structural cover for years 3–10

Cons

  • Cover and exclusions vary — read the policy
  • Time-limited: you must claim within the warranty's windows
#4

Escalate via the New Homes Quality Code / Consumer Code

Free

New-build buyers are protected by an industry code — the New Homes Quality Code (overseen by the New Homes Quality Board) for developers signed up to it, or the older Consumer Code for Home Builders. These codes set standards for how developers must treat buyers and provide an independent dispute-resolution / ombudsman route if a complaint about snags or service isn't resolved. If your developer is unresponsive, this is your formal escalation path beyond the warranty.

Pros

  • Independent dispute resolution / ombudsman route
  • Sets enforceable standards for builder conduct

Cons

  • Which code applies depends on the developer and purchase date
  • Escalation takes time — try the developer and warranty first

Verdict

Snagging a new build is about being thorough and being timely. Inspect the whole property room by room, inside and out, ideally before completion — and seriously consider a professional snagging inspector (around £300–£600), because the developer is most motivated to fix things while you still have leverage. Report every snag in writing with photographs, lean on the NHBC Buildmark (or equivalent) warranty for the first two years and structural cover to year 10, and escalate through the New Homes Quality Code or Consumer Code ombudsman if the developer stalls. New builds aren't immune to wider risks either: run an instant HouseCheckup Snapshot on the address to check flood, ground-stability and planning context around the new estate before you complete.

Try the HouseCheckup Snapshot

Frequently asked questions

Snagging is the process of identifying faults and unfinished work in a new-build home — such as poor paintwork, badly-fitted doors or windows, leaks, cracked tiles or external defects — and listing them for the developer to put right. The list of faults is called a snagging list, and you give it to the developer to fix, ideally before completion or as soon as possible afterwards.
Ideally before you complete, or immediately after moving in. Inspecting early matters because the developer is most obliged and most motivated to fix defects during the early defects-liability period — typically the first two years under an NHBC Buildmark warranty. Report snags in writing promptly so they fall well within the warranty's timeframes.
It is often worth it. A professional snagging inspector (typically around £300–£600) knows what to look for and produces a detailed, well-evidenced list that an untrained eye would miss. On a property worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, that cost is small relative to having defects properly documented and fixed by the developer.
An NHBC Buildmark warranty typically runs for 10 years in two phases: in the first two years the builder must put right defects that breach NHBC standards, and years 3–10 provide structural cover. If the developer won't fix a valid early-period defect, NHBC offers a resolution service. Cover and exclusions vary, so read your specific warranty documents.
First report the snags in writing and keep chasing with a dated record. If the developer still won't act on valid defects, use the warranty provider's resolution service (for example NHBC's), and escalate through the relevant industry code — the New Homes Quality Code (New Homes Quality Board) or the Consumer Code for Home Builders — which provide an independent dispute-resolution or ombudsman route.
Report snags as early as possible — many developers ask for an initial list within the first weeks, and the most generous fix obligations apply during the developer's defects period (commonly the first two years). Your warranty sets the exact timeframes for raising different types of defect, so check the policy and don't leave issues unreported.

Related guides

Answer
Do I Need a Survey When Buying a House?
Answer
House Survey Cost UK 2026: Level 1, 2 and 3 Prices and When to Use Each
Answer
Level 2 vs Level 3 Survey: Which RICS Home Survey Do You Need?
Comparison
Best Real Estate Check UK 2026: The Complete Property Check Comparison

Sources