Snagging is a visual check of a newly built home for faults, damage, missing items or unfinished work. You inspect the home one area at a time, record any issues and report them to the builder or developer.
A snag could be a cosmetic issue, such as scratched glass, chipped paint or an uneven finish. It could also affect how part of the home works, such as a door that does not close, a leaking pipe or an included appliance that does not operate as expected.
A snagging inspection cannot guarantee that a home will be free from defects. It can help you identify visible problems, create a dated record of the home’s condition and report each issue clearly.
If you are considering a newly built property, read more about the benefits of buying a new-build home.
Common examples of new-build snags
A snag is a fault, item of damage, missing item or piece of unfinished work that may relate to the construction or finish of a new home.
Examples include:
- scratched or chipped glass;
- incomplete or uneven decoration;
- a damaged kitchen unit or worktop;
- a door or window that does not open or close correctly;
- a leaking tap or pipe;
- an included appliance that does not operate as expected; or
- a missing fixture, fitting or agreed option.
Normal maintenance, accidental damage, wear and tear, condensation caused by everyday activities or changes made after completion may be treated differently.
Describe what you have observed rather than trying to decide what caused it. The issue may need to be assessed before its cause and the appropriate next step can be confirmed.
Why a snagging inspection is useful
New homes are subject to checks during construction, but a separate visual snagging inspection gives you an opportunity to look closely at your home before or after you move in.
Snagging can help you:
- identify visible damage, faults or unfinished work;
- find missing fixtures, fittings or agreed options;
- check that accessible parts of the home operate as expected;
- compare the home with the specification and purchase information supplied for it;
- create a written and photographic record; and
- report each issue clearly to the builder or developer.
Whether an issue is treated as a construction defect or falls within an applicable warranty will depend on its cause, when it was reported and the documents supplied for the home.
When should you inspect a new-build home?
You may be able to inspect your home before legal completion, at handover, when you collect the keys or shortly after moving in. The opportunities available will depend on the development, construction stage, site safety requirements and the terms of your purchase.
Do not assume that you or an independent inspector will be allowed into the home before legal completion. Confirm what access is available, who may attend and whether any time or safety restrictions apply.
If you have already moved in, record and report issues as soon as you notice them. Check the completion documents, warranty information and maintenance guidance supplied for your home for the appropriate procedure, relevant timescales and any exclusions.
Doing it yourself or appointing a professional
You can carry out a visual snagging inspection using a checklist. This can help you identify surface damage, incomplete finishes, missing items and fittings that do not operate as expected.
You may prefer to appoint an independent snagging inspector or a suitably experienced chartered building surveyor. Before booking, confirm that they can attend the property and check what access will be available.
Ask about their:
- relevant qualifications and construction experience;
- professional indemnity and public liability insurance;
- inspection scope and exclusions;
- reporting format; and
- use of specialist equipment.
If specialist equipment is included, ask what it will be used for and how the findings will be explained. Qualifications or professional membership may help you assess someone’s background, but you should also check their relevant experience and the scope of the service.
How to create a clear snagging report
A useful snagging report records each issue separately and gives the builder or developer enough information to find and assess it.
For every snag, include:
- a reference number;
- the room or area;
- the exact location;
- the date you found it;
- a factual description;
- one close photograph;
- one photograph showing its position in the room; and
- a brief explanation of how it affects the home.
Where the size of an issue is unclear, include a ruler or another suitable object for scale. Keep the original image files and avoid applying filters or heavily cropping them.
Rather than writing “the plumbing is faulty”, describe what you observed:
07 | Main bathroom | Beneath the washbasin: Water collects beneath the waste pipe when the tap is running. Identified on 15 September. Two photographs attached.
Submit your report through the contact route supplied for your home. Keep copies of the report, photographs and correspondence.
Report an issue that may affect safety, security or an essential service promptly. Do not wait to include it with cosmetic or non-urgent snags.
New-build snagging checklist
Work through your home in a logical order and record each issue separately. Look for visible problems and unfinished work rather than trying to diagnose technical faults.
Only inspect areas that are safe and accessible. Do not climb onto roofs, enter restricted construction areas, open electrical fittings or interfere with gas, heating or electrical equipment.
A visual inspection may not identify hidden defects or problems in inaccessible parts of the building.
External areas included with the home
Only inspect external areas included with your home or made available during the inspection. If you are buying an apartment, shared areas and the main structure of the building may fall outside the scope of your individual inspection.
- Record visible damage or unfinished work to accessible external walls.
- Look for visible cracks, chips or missing mortar.
- Check accessible steps, paths and driveways for damage or possible trip hazards.
- Check fences, walls and gates for visible damage or loose fittings.
- Test accessible external lights and taps where it is safe to do so.
- Record visible damage, standing water or overflowing around accessible drains and gullies.
- Compare any garden, parking space or boundary with the information supplied for your home.
Do not lift drain covers or try to investigate underground drainage.
Report concerns about roofs, chimneys, gutters, high-level walls or cladding without trying to access them. Do not use a ladder or climb onto any part of the building.
Windows and external doors
- Open and close accessible windows and doors.
- Check that handles, hinges and locks operate correctly.
- Look for scratches, chips or cracks in glass and frames.
- Record damaged sealant, visible gaps or unfinished sections around accessible frames.
- Record any noticeable draughts.
- Test window restrictors and trickle vents where fitted.
- Check that the available keys have been provided.
- Make sure external doors close and lock securely.
Walls and ceilings
- Look for cracks, dents, marks or scuffs.
- Check for uneven or incomplete paint coverage.
- Inspect visible joints, corners and edges.
- Look for staining, water damage or signs of dampness.
- Check that visible access panels are fitted where specified.
- Record incomplete plaster, paint or decorative finishes.
Cracks and marks can have different causes. Record their position, appearance and approximate size, then report your concern rather than trying to assess the cause yourself.
Floors, doors and fitted joinery
- Check floors for scratches, dents, loose sections or uneven finishes.
- Inspect carpets and other floor coverings for damage or poor fitting.
- Check the edges of flooring around walls, doors and fitted units.
- Open and close every internal door.
- Check whether doors catch on floors or frames.
- Inspect skirting boards, architraves and window boards.
- Test fitted cupboards, wardrobes, shelves and storage.
- Record loose fittings or instability noticed during normal use of stairs and handrails.
Do not apply force to stairs, handrails or balustrades to test them. Report visible damage, loose fittings or another safety concern for assessment.
Electrical fittings and alarms
- Test accessible light switches that appear safe and undamaged.
- Check light fittings for visible damage or loose parts.
- Check sockets and switches for visible damage, looseness, scorching or signs of overheating.
- Test accessible extractor fans.
- Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms using the test function and instructions supplied with the equipment.
Do not use a socket or electrical fitting that appears damaged. Do not remove covers, disconnect alarms, open electrical fittings or carry out electrical testing yourself.
Stop using and promptly report any fitting that is visibly damaged, shows signs of scorching, produces a burning smell, makes an unusual sound or appears to be overheating. Do not touch it to check its temperature.
Read the government’s fire safety guidance for the home for further information about testing and maintaining smoke alarms.
Plumbing and heating
- Run accessible taps and check for visible leaks or drips.
- Check beneath sinks and washbasins while the water is running.
- Test showers and baths.
- Check that water drains away without overflowing.
- Flush each toilet and check that it refills.
- Look for water around toilets, visible pipes, radiators and appliances.
- Check whether accessible radiators warm up when the heating is operating normally.
- Test heating and hot-water controls using the instructions supplied.
- Check visible sealant around baths, showers and washbasins.
- Record warning messages, leaks, persistent unexpected noises or equipment that does not operate in line with its instructions.
Do not remove boiler covers, dismantle fittings or interfere with gas equipment. Do not carry out gas work yourself. Use a Gas Safe registered engineer who is qualified for the type of work required.
Kitchen
- Check worktops for scratches, chips or poor joins.
- Open and close cabinets and drawers.
- Check that doors and drawer fronts are aligned.
- Inspect handles, hinges and soft-close mechanisms where fitted.
- Check visible sealant around worktops, sinks and splashbacks.
- Run the tap and inspect the sink and visible pipework for leaks.
- Check tiles, splashbacks and grout for damage or incomplete finishes.
- Confirm that specified shelves, trays and accessories are present.
If an included appliance has been commissioned and you have been told it is ready to use, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to check its basic operation.
Do not use an appliance that appears damaged, is incomplete or is awaiting connection.
Bathrooms
- Inspect tiles and grout for cracks, chips or gaps.
- Check visible sealant around baths, showers, washbasins and toilets.
- Run taps and showers to check water flow and drainage.
- Check beneath accessible pipework for leaks.
- Flush toilets and check that seats are secure.
- Test extractor fans.
- Check mirrors, screens, cabinets and fittings for damage.
- Open and close shower doors or screens.
- Check that plugs and waste fittings operate correctly.
Documents, meters and final checks
- Compare the home with the specification and purchase information supplied for it.
- Record missing fixtures, fittings, appliances or agreed options.
- Check whether included appliances have been commissioned and are ready to use.
- Review any Energy Performance Certificate supplied for the home.
- Check that relevant manuals, guarantees and warranty documents have been provided.
- Record initial electricity, gas and water meter readings where applicable.
- Confirm that available keys, fobs and access instructions have been provided.
- Check any parking, storage or cycle spaces included with the home.
- Read the emergency, maintenance and reporting information supplied to you.
- Keep completion, warranty and snagging documents together.
Snags in communal areas
Damage or unfinished work in a shared entrance, corridor, lift, store, garden or parking area may follow a different reporting process from issues inside your home.
Record the exact location and report the issue through the contact route supplied for communal areas.
Do not enter restricted spaces, interfere with communal equipment or try to inspect parts of the building that are not safely accessible.
Immediate safety concerns
Do not treat an immediate safety risk as an ordinary snag or try to investigate it yourself.
Leave the affected area where necessary, avoid touching damaged equipment and follow the emergency information supplied for your home.
If you suspect a gas leak or an unsafe gas appliance, do not investigate it as part of your snagging inspection. Follow the current gas emergency guidance from the Health and Safety Executive or the emergency information supplied for your home.
Contact the relevant emergency service or utility emergency service where there is a suspected gas leak, electrical danger, fire, significant uncontrolled water leak or another immediate risk.
After reporting a snag
The builder or developer may ask for more information or arrange an inspection before explaining the next step.
Whether an issue is treated as a construction defect or falls within an applicable warranty will depend on its cause, when it was reported and the documents supplied for the home.
Keep copies of correspondence and records of completed work. If work is carried out, check the affected area again where it is safe to do so and report anything that remains unresolved.
Download the printable new-build snagging checklist
Take a copy with you when you inspect your home:
Download the print-friendly new-build snagging checklist
The downloadable checklist supports a visual inspection. If its guidance differs from the completion documents, warranty terms or maintenance information supplied for the property, follow the information provided for your home.
This article provides general information about carrying out a visual check of a new-build home in safely accessible areas. It does not constitute legal advice or replace the purchase documents, warranty terms, maintenance instructions or reporting information supplied for the home.
A visual snagging check may not identify hidden defects or problems in inaccessible areas. It is not a structural survey, electrical inspection or gas-safety inspection. Do not investigate a suspected safety hazard yourself. Follow the emergency information supplied for the home and seek help from an appropriately qualified professional where required.
