What is a new-build snagging list and what are your rights?
Snagging is identifying defects in a newly built property — the finishing faults, incomplete work and workmanship problems that are extremely common even in well-built homes.
What counts as a snag: doors and windows not closing properly, poor paintwork, uneven plaster, cracked tiles, missing seals, plumbing that leaks or runs slowly, electrical points not working, gaps in flooring, garden and drainage left unfinished, and appliances not correctly installed.
Surveys of new-build buyers consistently find the large majority report defects, frequently dozens.
When to do it. Ideally before legal completion, at a pre-completion inspection, since your leverage is greatest before the developer has your money. Many developers offer this; some resist, and you should insist.
Professional snagging inspectors exist and typically find substantially more than a buyer would — including things behind and above where people look. For a few hundred pounds on a purchase costing hundreds of thousands, most advice regards this as worthwhile.
Your rights:
The developer's own defects period. Most warranties give a period — commonly two years — during which the builder is responsible for putting defects right. Report in writing and keep records.
Structural warranty. Most new homes carry a 10-year warranty — NHBC Buildmark is the largest, with alternatives including LABC and Premier. The first two years are the builder's liability; years 3 to 10 typically cover only major structural defects, not finishes.
The New Homes Quality Code, introduced to improve standards, requires registered developers to have a complaints process and gives access to the New Homes Ombudsman Service.
Consumer Code for Home Builders applies to warranty-covered homes.
Ordinary consumer and contract rights also apply.
Practical advice: photograph and date everything; submit lists in writing rather than verbally; be specific about location and defect; escalate through the formal complaints process; and do not accept pressure to complete before inspecting.