You check the finish, test the fittings and record every fault before accepting your new home. A snagging list helps you identify unfinished work, poor workmanship and defects such as leaks, cracks or faulty fixtures, while your contract, warranty and consumer protections set out what the developer must put right. If problems remain unresolved, you’ll need a clear written approach and a firm escalation plan—starting with knowing exactly what counts as the developer’s responsibility.
Key Takeaways
- A snagging list records defects, unfinished work, and poor workmanship in a new-build or renovated property.
- Inspect systematically before completion or handover, testing fixtures, finishes, plumbing, electrics, and external areas.
- Photograph every issue and provide precise descriptions, locations, and requested remedies for clear communication.
- Developers generally must correct defects caused by poor workmanship, faulty materials, incomplete work, or specification breaches.
- Report snags in writing, set reasonable deadlines, retain evidence, and escalate through complaints, warranties, or relevant consumer codes.
What Is a Snagging List?
A snagging list is a written record of defects, unfinished work or poor workmanship identified in a newly built or renovated property. You use it to document problems clearly, from sticking doors and cracked tiles to faulty sockets, leaking taps or incomplete decoration.
It provides practical defects documentation, helping you communicate what requires correction and creating a useful record of the property’s condition.
You can prepare the list yourself, ask an independent snagging inspector to help, or combine both approaches. During a project inspection, check each room systematically, including external areas, fixtures, fittings, heating, plumbing and electrics.
Record the precise location, describe the fault, and add photographs where possible. A well-prepared list doesn’t prove every issue is the developer’s responsibility, but it gives you clear evidence when requesting remedial work under your contract and applicable UK consumer protections.
When Should You Create a Snagging List?
When should you create a snagging list? Ideally, you should arrange your inspection before completing the purchase or, for a new-build home, before legal completion. This timing gives the developer an opportunity to correct faults before you move in and helps protect your position if issues remain unresolved.
Check your Construction timeline and ask the developer when the property will be sufficiently finished for a meaningful inspection. If you inspect too early, ongoing work may create additional defects. If you wait until after completion, arranging access and securing repairs can become more difficult.
A professional snagging inspection can provide independent Quality assurance shortly before handover. You should also carry out a final review at handover, then report any newly noticed problems promptly, in writing, and retain photographs and correspondence for your records.
What Should Your Snagging List Include?
Once the inspection is scheduled, your snagging list should cover every part of the property, not just obvious cosmetic defects. Use an inspection checklist to work methodically through each room, recording the location and description of every concern.
Check walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, skirting boards, cupboards, worktops and built-in appliances. Test lights, sockets, switches, heating controls, extractor fans, taps, toilets and showers, noting anything that doesn’t operate correctly.
Look for leaks, damp, cracks, uneven surfaces, damaged fittings and poor sealing around windows or sanitaryware. Include external areas such as brickwork, rendering, paths, drainage, fencing, the garden and parking space.
Check finishing touches, including paintwork, grout, silicone and cleaning standards. Take dated photographs and keep your notes clear, specific and easy to reference during discussions with the developer.
What Must the Developer Fix?
The developer must fix defects caused by poor workmanship, faulty materials, incomplete work or failure to meet the agreed specification and building standards. This includes leaking roofs, defective windows, uneven flooring, faulty plumbing, electrical problems, poor insulation, damp, cracks and unsafe fixtures.
You can also expect corrections where finishes fall below the promised quality or where essential items remain unfinished at handover. Your contract, plans, specification and warranty help establish what the developer agreed to provide.
Building regulations and applicable consumer protections provide further benchmarks, although minor cosmetic imperfections may need reasonable assessment.
Quality assurance should identify and prevent these issues before completion, while Contractor accountability means the developer remains responsible for coordinating its trades and delivering compliant work.
Record each defect clearly, with photographs, locations and relevant specification references, during your inspection.
How Do You Resolve Unfixed Snags?
If the developer leaves valid snags unresolved, follow up in writing with your inspection record, photographs, specification references and a clear deadline for remedial work. Keep communication factual and use the developer’s formal complaints procedure if they don’t respond.
Explain each defect, its location, and the remedy you expect, then retain emails, reports and appointment records.
Check your contract, warranty terms and the Consumer Code that applies to your purchase. These documents clarify developer obligations, response times and escalation routes.
Don’t authorise or pay for repairs before giving the developer a reasonable opportunity to act, unless safety requires immediate intervention.
If progress stalls, contact the warranty provider, seek independent legal advice, or escalate through an ombudsman scheme.
Continue recording defects throughout the snagging process, including missed visits and incomplete work.
Conclusion
A snagging list protects you from accepting unfinished or defective work. Record each issue clearly, photograph it, and send your list to the developer promptly, referring to your contract, warranty and applicable standards. Don’t assume minor faults will resolve themselves: agree repair dates and retain all correspondence. For context, the NHBC Buildmark warranty generally covers newly built homes for 10 years, although limitations apply. If problems persist, escalate through the developer’s complaints process and relevant dispute-resolution scheme.
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