New build snagging: the complete UK guide
Snagging is the inspection that finds everything your developer hasn’t finished to standard — and gets it fixed at their cost, not yours. Here’s what it covers, when to book it, and what your builder is obliged to put right.
What is new build snagging?
Snagging is a detailed inspection of a newly built home that records every item finished below the required standard. A “snag” can be cosmetic — chipped worktops, poor sealant, doors that bind — or serious, like missing loft insulation, incorrectly fitted roof flashing, blocked drainage or unbalanced heating.
An independent snagging survey matters because the site inspection your developer carries out is not on your side. Ours is: an RPSA-accredited inspector spends several hours on the property, uses a drone for the roof and thermal imaging for what’s behind the plaster, and produces a photographic report you can send straight to the builder. Most homes we inspect have 100–300 recordable items worth £3,000–£8,000 in remedial work.
When should you book a snagging survey?
Before you complete
A pre-completion inspection (PCI) is your strongest position — the New Homes Quality Code gives buyers the right to one, and defects found now are fixed before you move in.
First few weeks after moving in
The most common time to snag. Everything found is the developer's responsibility to put right under the two-year builder warranty.
Before the end of year two
Year two is the cut-off for the developer's own liability. Book a survey in good time so items are reported before the window closes.
Years three to ten
Only major structural defects remain covered by the warranty provider. Cosmetic and finish issues become yours to pay for.
More detail on your reporting deadlines is in the know your rights section.
What a snagging inspection covers
Internally
Every room checked for finish, alignment, sealing, doors and windows, sockets, heating, plumbing and ventilation.
Externally
Brickwork, rendering, pointing, drainage, paths, boundaries, garages and external joinery.
Roof (drone)
Tiles, ridge, valleys, flashings and gutters photographed from the air rather than guessed at from ground level.
Thermal
Missing or slumped insulation, cold bridging, draughts and concealed leaks identified with a thermal camera.
Loft and services
Insulation depth and coverage, water tanks, cabling, extractor terminations and boiler installation.
Documentation
Findings referenced against NHBC Standards and the NHQB New Homes Quality Code where they apply.
What does new build snagging cost?
Fixed prices from £349, banded by bedroom count, with drone and thermal imaging included rather than sold as extras. Full breakdown on the snagging survey cost page.
Want to start yourself first? Work through our free room-by-room snagging list — it costs nothing and will catch the obvious items before we arrive.
New build snagging FAQs
What is snagging on a new build?
Snagging is the process of inspecting a newly built home and recording everything that has not been finished to the required standard — from unsealed joints and poor paintwork to missing loft insulation, roof defects and drainage faults. The list is then given to the developer to put right.
When should I get a snagging survey?
Ideally before legal completion, or within the first few weeks of moving in. At the very latest, book before the end of year two, which is when the developer's own liability for defects ends.
How much does new build snagging cost?
Fixed prices start from £349 for a 1–2 bedroom home, £400 for 3 bedrooms, £490 for 4 bedrooms and £600 for 5 bedrooms, with drone and thermal imaging included.
Can I do my own snagging list?
Yes, and you should — a homeowner walkthrough catches plenty of visible finish issues. What it cannot catch is roof detail, missing insulation, cold bridging or hidden leaks, which need drone and thermal equipment and an inspector who knows NHBC tolerances.
Does the developer have to fix the snags?
Defects that fall short of NHBC Standards or the NHQB New Homes Quality Code must be put right free of charge within the warranty period. A dated, photographic, referenced report is the most effective way to make that happen.
How many snags does a typical new build have?
Most new build homes we inspect have between 100 and 300 recordable items, commonly worth £3,000–£8,000 of remedial work.