Snagging list for new build homes
A complete room-by-room snagging list you can use today, plus how to write it up so your developer actually fixes it. Free, no sign-up needed to read.
What is a snagging list?
A snagging list is the written record of everything wrong, unfinished or badly finished in a new build home. It is what you hand to the developer so the faults are put right at their cost while the property is still within the builder’s two-year responsibility period.
Most homeowners find between 30 and 80 items on their own. A professional, RPSA-accredited inspection of the same property usually logs 100–300, because it adds roof, thermal and technical checks you can’t make from the ground with the naked eye.
Work through the list below with a torch, a spirit level and your phone. Tick off what’s fine, photograph what isn’t.
The full room-by-room snagging list
Around 55 checks covering every part of a typical new build.
Kitchen
- Worktop joints tight, sealed and level
- Cupboard and drawer fronts aligned, soft-close working
- Taps run clear, no drips, waste pipes leak-free after 5 minutes
- Every integrated appliance powers on and completes a short cycle
- Extractor vents properly and isn't blocked
- Splashback and sink sealant continuous, no gaps or mould
- Tiling flat, grout consistent, no cracked tiles
Bathrooms & en-suites
- Silicone around bath, basin and shower is continuous and neat
- Shower drains within seconds — no pooling water
- Toilet flushes fully and refills without hissing
- Extractor fan runs on the light switch and pulls air strongly
- Towel rail heats evenly with no cold sections
- Wet room floor falls towards the drain
- Tiles sound solid when tapped (hollow = poor adhesive coverage)
Doors, windows & glazing
- Every door closes without binding and the latch engages cleanly
- Hinges, handles and locks operate smoothly on all catches
- Window seals continuous — no missed silicone or bubbling
- Trickle vents fitted, operating and not painted shut
- Glass free of scratches, chips and internal misting
- Cills and reveals square, plaster uncracked
- External thresholds weather-tight
Walls, ceilings & decoration
- No dents, scuffs, filler marks or roller lines under raking light
- Ceilings flat, no cracks at wall junctions, no popped screws
- Skirting and architrave mitres tight, caulked and painted
- Paint coverage even — no thin patches over filler
- Sockets and switches square, secure, powered and correctly rotated
- Radiators level, heating evenly, no cold spots at the base
Floors & stairs
- Floors level and free of bounce, creaks or hollow boards
- Carpet joins tidy, gripper rods not visible or catching
- Tile and vinyl edges finished with trims, no lipping
- Staircase handrail solid, balusters evenly spaced
- No squeaks on treads and no gaps at the strings
Loft, boiler & services
- Loft insulation at spec depth, laid evenly and not compressed
- Loft hatch closes flush and is draught-sealed
- Boiler pressure in the green band, flue terminating correctly
- Stopcock, gas meter and consumer unit accessible and labelled
- Smoke and heat alarms mains-wired and test correctly
- Extract and MVHR systems run on every setting
Exterior, roof & drainage
- Brickwork pointing full — no missing or smeared mortar
- Roof tiles flat, none slipped, ridge and flashing sound
- Gutters and downpipes secure, level and free of mortar debris
- Render even, no hairline cracking at reveals and corners
- Drain covers flush, accessible and not paved over
- Air bricks clear of render and soil
Garden, garage & driveway
- Fence posts plumb and concreted, gravel boards fitted
- Paving falls away from the building and drains freely
- Turf laid evenly, no large gaps or dead patches
- Driveway blocks level with consistent joints
- Garage door operates fully and seals at the threshold
- External tap and lighting work, isolation valve accessible
Take the guide with you
Download 7 Deadly New Build Mistakes Developers Try To Hide — the PDF companion to this list, covering the defects that cost homeowners the most when they’re missed.
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How to write up your snagging list
One room at a time
Work room by room and number every item. Mixed-up lists get partially actioned and disputed later.
Photograph everything
Take a wide shot for context and a close-up for the defect. Keep the original timestamped files.
Describe, don't diagnose
Write what you can see — 'crack above door frame, 200mm' — rather than guessing at the cause.
Submit in writing
Email the developer's customer care team and keep the thread. Verbal promises from the site manager are not evidence.
Deadlines matter: most cosmetic and workmanship defects must be reported in writing within your first two years. Read the NHBC & NHQB timeframes or see what a professional snagging survey costs.
Snagging list FAQs
How many items should be on a snagging list?
A homeowner walkthrough typically finds 30–80. A professional inspection of the same home usually logs 100–300, including roof and thermal defects.
Can I do a snagging list myself?
Yes — this page is designed for exactly that. You’ll catch the visible finish issues. What you can’t catch is missing loft insulation, cold bridging, roof defects and hidden leaks, which is where a drone and thermal survey pays for itself.
Will the developer accept my own list?
They must consider it, but a numbered, photographed, NHBC/NHQB-referenced report is far harder to push back on than a handwritten sheet.