Last reviewed: 15 July 2026. This guide is general information, not professional or legal advice. Warranty terms and industry codes change, so confirm the current position with your warranty provider, developer and the official sources linked below before you rely on it.
Buying a brand-new home should mean everything is perfect - but new builds often have "snags": defects, unfinished details and things not built to standard, from a badly hung door to poor sealing or plasterwork. A snagging survey is a professional inspection that lists these so the developer can fix them. It is different from the RICS home surveys covered in our guide to choosing a survey, which are aimed at older, second-hand homes.
What a snagging survey is
A snagging survey (sometimes called a snagging inspection) is a detailed check of a new-build property against the standards it should have been finished to. The inspector produces a room-by-room list of defects - cosmetic and functional - that you can hand to the developer to put right. It is not a valuation and not a structural survey of an old building; it is a quality check on new work.
Because snagging is a specialist job, look for an inspector with a relevant accreditation. Some are RICS-regulated surveyors; others are accredited specifically for snagging (for example through the Residential Property Surveyors Association). As with any surveyor, ask about their accreditation and insurance before booking.
When to get one
Ideally, arrange your snagging inspection before you legally complete, so defects are logged before the developer's job is signed off. If your developer has adopted the New Homes Quality Code, you (or an inspector acting for you) have the right to a pre-completion inspection of the home before you complete - a good moment to snag it (New Homes Quality Board).
If you cannot inspect before completion, snag as soon as you can afterwards and report the defects in writing to your developer. Early is better - it puts everything on record while the developer is still actively responsible for putting things right.
How your warranty protects you
Most new-build homes come with a structural warranty. The best-known is NHBC Buildmark, though other providers exist. Buildmark is a 10-year warranty and insurance cover, and it is worth understanding how the years split, because it changes who you go to:
- The first two years - the builder period. The builder is liable to put right defects reported to them (defined as a breach of NHBC's requirements), and NHBC guarantees those obligations. This is where most snags are dealt with.
- Years three to ten - the insurance period. An eight-year insurance period follows, covering the cost of repairing certain structural damage described in the policy - for example damage caused by foundations not built to NHBC's requirements.
Source: NHBC Buildmark cover. Your own warranty may be from a different provider with different terms, so read your policy documents and note the deadlines for reporting defects.
If the developer will not put things right
Where your developer has adopted the New Homes Quality Code, you get extra protection on top of the warranty. Under the Code you are protected from the point you reserve your home until two years after completion, and if a complaint is not resolved you can escalate for free to the independent New Homes Ombudsman Service (New Homes Quality Board). This protection applies where the developer is registered with, and has adopted, the Code - so it is worth checking your developer's status.
Frequently asked questions
What is a snagging survey?
A snagging survey is a professional inspection of a new-build home that lists defects, unfinished work and anything not built to the expected standard, room by room, so the developer can put them right. It is a quality check on new work - not a valuation, and not a structural survey of an older property.
When should I get a snagging survey done?
Ideally before you legally complete, so defects are logged before the developer's work is signed off. If your developer has adopted the New Homes Quality Code, you or your inspector have the right to a pre-completion inspection. If you cannot inspect beforehand, snag as soon as possible after moving in and report defects to the developer in writing.
Does my new-build warranty cover snags?
Typically yes in the early years. With NHBC Buildmark, a 10-year cover, the first two years are a builder period during which the builder must put right reported defects; years three to ten are an insurance period covering certain structural damage. Other warranty providers have their own terms, so read your policy and note the deadlines for reporting defects.
What if the developer will not fix the problems?
Where the developer has adopted the New Homes Quality Code, you are protected from reservation until two years after completion and can escalate an unresolved complaint, free, to the independent New Homes Ombudsman Service. This applies where the developer is registered with the Code, so check their status.
Do I need an RICS surveyor to do the snagging?
Not necessarily. Snagging can be done by a specialist snagging inspector or an RICS-regulated surveyor. Look for a relevant accreditation - some inspectors are accredited specifically for snagging, for example through the Residential Property Surveyors Association - and check they carry insurance, just as you would with any surveyor.
Related guides
- Which house survey do I need? A buyer's guide
- Questions to ask your surveyor
- A buyer's guide to finding a home in England
General information, not professional advice. This guide is kept under review, but warranty terms and industry codes change and every home is different. Always read your own warranty and reservation documents and take professional advice before relying on it for a specific decision.