New Build Snagging and Warranty Checklist for Landlords

Snagging means inspecting a new home for defects before you complete or soon after, listing them and getting the developer to fix them. For landlords it matters twice: faults delay letting, and a clear written record protects you under the defects period and the structural warranty.

Why landlords should care

A new build is not defect-free. Minor faults in finish are common, and occasionally there are more serious problems. A tenant who moves into a flat with issues will report them, and a landlord who has not documented the faults may struggle to get them fixed. Delay costs rent. A thorough check before completion, or in the first days, gives you a list to send to the developer in writing.

The three layers of protection

Layer	What it covers	Typical duration
Developer’s defects period	Faults and unfinished work	Often the first one or two years, check the contract
Structural warranty	Major structural defects	Commonly ten years, see the policy
Consumer code and redress	Standards of sales and service	Check which code applies to the developer

The warranty is usually provided by a body such as NHBC or another insurer. In England, the new homes redress arrangements and quality code have been developing, so ask the developer which scheme it belongs to, and confirm details in the sales documents rather than relying on a verbal assurance. For leasehold flats, communal parts are normally covered by the building’s warranty and managed through the service charge, so check who is responsible for what.

Key takeaway: A warranty is not a substitute for inspection. It responds to defects you have documented, and the clearer your record, the smoother the process.

What to inspect

Bring a torch, a phone with a camera, a tape measure, a spirit level and a small plug-in socket tester. Work through the flat room by room.

Structure and finish

• Walls and ceilings: cracks, uneven plaster, stains, poor paint.
• Floors: squeaks, gaps, damaged flooring.
• Doors and windows: open, close, lock, seals, scratches.
• Joinery: skirting, architraves, cupboards.

Services

• Electrics: test every socket and switch, check consumer unit is labelled.
• Plumbing: run every tap and shower, check pressure and drainage, look under sinks.
• Heating: run the boiler or system, check each radiator warms evenly.
• Ventilation: check extract fans work and are not blocked.

Kitchen and bathrooms

• Appliances operate, units are aligned, silicone is neat, tiles are sealed.

Safety and compliance

• Smoke and heat alarms are fitted and working.
• Fire doors and any signage are in place in communal areas.
• Documents: energy performance certificate, electrical and gas certificates, warranty cover note, building control sign-off.

Communal areas and external

• Lifts, corridors, bin stores, bike storage and entrances are complete and clean.
• Access control and post boxes work.

Recording snags

Photograph every issue with something for scale, note the location, and number each item. Send the list by email so you have a date stamp. Ask for a written plan with dates for the repairs. Keep a spreadsheet to track progress, and re-inspect after the developer says the work is done.

Professional or DIY?

Option	Pros	Cons
DIY	Free, immediate	May miss hidden defects, less weight with developers
Professional snagger	Trained eye, formal report, thermal or moisture tools sometimes	Cost, needs scheduling

A paid inspection is often worth it on a larger purchase or when you live far away. If you are abroad, a local inspector is a practical way to check the property, a point we also cover in buying a UK new build from overseas.

Completion timing

Developers may ask you to complete before all snags are fixed. Your solicitor can advise on whether a retention or an agreed schedule of works is possible. Do not assume that completion extinguishes your rights, but do not rely on it either. Get commitments in writing. For off-plan units, delays and changes to the finish are separate topics, discussed in off-plan versus completed new builds.

Before letting

1. Complete the snagging list or have an agreed timetable.
2. Obtain a gas safety certificate if there is gas, an electrical installation report as required and an energy performance certificate. The current landlord duties are summarised on GOV.UK; verify before you let.
3. Check the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements.
4. Prepare an inventory with dated photographs.
5. Confirm the leasehold details and the managing agent contacts; see leasehold, ground rent and service charge.

Common problems found

• Sealant gaps around baths and showers.
• Doors and windows that do not close properly.
• Unfinished decoration behind furniture or in storage areas.
• Poor drainage or low hot water pressure.
• Incomplete communal areas that are still a building site.

Most are cosmetic, but they affect how a tenant feels about the flat, so fixing them early reduces complaints and voids. Document the lot, and if the developer is slow, escalate in writing and use the warranty provider or consumer redress route as appropriate. The UK hub on PropertyDevelopments.com shows which schemes are completed, which is useful if you prefer to inspect a finished unit before buying.

Dealing with the developer after handover

If a snag delays letting, measure the cost with the ROI calculator by adding the lost months of rent to your figures.

Once you have sent the snag list, keep the conversation factual and dated. Reply to every email with the item numbers you mean, and agree dates for each fix. If a repair is promised for a particular week, note whether it happened. If deadlines keep slipping, escalate to a named senior contact and mention the defects period and warranty provider. Keep records of tenants’ complaints too, because a pattern of reports on the same issue is evidence.

For serious defects, such as water ingress, structural cracking or failed fire safety features, do not wait for the routine process. Notify the developer and the warranty provider immediately, take photographs and get an independent professional opinion if needed. Communal defects are a matter for the managing agent and the freeholder, so report them through the correct channel as well.

Choosing a completed scheme to inspect

If you prefer to see a finished building before buying, listings that show a scheme as completed let you visit the real thing. The UK page on PropertyDevelopments.com marks projects as completed or under construction, which helps you filter. Inspecting a finished unit, speaking to residents and checking how communal areas look after a year or two is far more informative than any show flat. Ask the developer whether the unit you are viewing has had its defects period and what issues arose in the block generally.