What is a snagging survey?
A snagging survey is an independent inspection of a newly built home that records every defect and unfinished item, so your developer can be held to fixing them — free of charge, and in writing.
The short answer
“Snags” are the faults left behind when a new home is finished in a hurry: chipped worktops and badly hung doors at one end of the scale, missing loft insulation, poor brickwork and unsealed pipework at the other. A snagging survey is a systematic hunt for all of them, carried out by an inspector who works for you rather than for the developer.
The output is a written, photographic report measured against the standards your builder already signed up to — the NHBC Standards and the New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) code. That distinction matters: a list of complaints is easy to dismiss, whereas a report citing the tolerance a finish has failed is not.
You then send the report to your developer, who is responsible for putting the listed items right at no cost to you during the builder liability period.
What does a snagging survey cover?
Every room, inside and out
Walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, kitchens, bathrooms, brickwork, render, drainage and the garden boundary — typically 100–300 individual items.
Roof survey by drone
Slipped tiles, ridge and flashing defects, blocked or misaligned gutters — the areas a ladder inspection simply cannot reach safely.
Thermal imaging
Missing or compressed insulation, cold bridging and hidden moisture behind finished surfaces, all invisible to the naked eye.
A report the builder acts on
A photographic PDF, aligned to NHBC and NHQB standards, referencing the tolerances your developer is contractually held to.
See exactly how the findings are presented in our guide to the snagging report.
Snagging survey vs other surveys
| Survey | Purpose | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Snagging survey | Lists every defect and unfinished item in a new build against NHBC/NHQB standards | New build buyers, before completion or within the liability period |
| Homebuyer report | Condition and valuation overview for a lender or buyer | Buyers of existing homes in reasonable condition |
| Building survey | Detailed structural assessment of an older or altered property | Buyers of period, unusual or renovated homes |
When should you book one?
- Before legal completion — the strongest position to be in, because outstanding items can be raised while the developer still needs your signature.
- In the first weeks after moving in — still comfortably inside the developer’s defect period, and drying-out cracks and heating faults start to show themselves.
- Before your two-year builder liability ends — the final chance to have most defects fixed at the developer’s expense rather than your own.
More detail on your rights and deadlines is in our new build snagging guide.
Snagging survey FAQs
- What is a snagging survey?
- A snagging survey is an independent inspection of a newly built home carried out by a professional snagging inspector. It records every defect, unfinished item and workmanship issue — from cosmetic marks to structural and safety faults — in a written report you give to your developer, who is obliged to put the listed items right at no cost to you.
- Is a snagging survey the same as a homebuyer survey?
- No. A homebuyer or building survey values the property and assesses its condition for lending purposes. A snagging survey is far more granular and is specific to new builds: it measures the finished home against the developer's own build standards and NHBC/NHQB tolerances, listing hundreds of defects the developer must correct.
- When should I book a snagging survey?
- Ideally before legal completion, so defects are logged while your leverage is greatest. If you have already moved in, book as soon as possible — most warranty providers give a two-year builder liability period from completion, after which many repairs become your responsibility.
- Do I still need one if the developer inspected the property?
- Yes. The developer's inspection is carried out by the same organisation responsible for the build. An independent, RPSA-accredited inspector works only for you, and typically finds a great many items a handover walk-through misses.
- How much does a snagging survey cost?
- Our fixed prices start at £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 and no travel charges across the North West.
- How long does a snagging survey take?
- Most inspections take three to five hours on site depending on property size. Your photographic PDF report is delivered within 48 hours of the visit.
Book your snagging survey from £349
RPSA accredited and fully insured, with drone and thermal imaging included as standard and your photographic report within 48 hours.
- Fixed prices, no hidden extras
- 48-hour PDF report
- RPSA accredited