Trusted Home Inspectors in Blackburn

Snagging should be done once a building developer has finished construction and decoration. Snagging can happen before or after completion. Ideally, a snagging inspection would happen before completion. This will give the building developer plenty of time to fix the snags before the property is moved into. Additionally, having a snagging report given to property developers before moving in means that there will be no disagreement about damage being caused by a developer or caused by an occupant. That said, new home owners have up to two years to complete snagging. However, most property developers will insist on snagging happening as soon as possible to avoid the additional cost of sending contactors back to a property rather than use builders and decorators they have on site while continuing the development.

For major defects such as those causing a danger to inhabitants or construction not meeting NHBC standards then immediately and urgently. Any issues of this kind should be resolved before moving in. For snags that are less serious this would depend on the nature of the snag. Some issues such as damage to floor tiles or scratches to windowpanes could involve a lead time while the developer orders a replacement, the wait could be weeks. On the other hand issues with cosmetic finishes could be addressed the next day. This of course all depends on how helpful the developers are. Some property developers employ staff outside of their construction teams to fix snags.

A snag list is a list of all the defects, faults or poor workmanship found in a new build property. A snag list is normally created by a snagging company on behalf of an owner. A snagging company will conduct a snagging survey on a new build property and publish a report for both the owner and the property developer. This is then used to make sure that the property is finished to a high standard, as a site manager will address the issues found in a snagging inspection by going back into a property and fixing the snags.

The new build snagging period is two years. A developer must fix any snags reported during this period. However, ideally a snagging survey will be done before move in day. This is to ensure that any defects found are not attributed to damage caused by the property being lived in rather than poor workmanship. Furthermore, most developers have strict rules about how and when snags are submitted and fixed. Most developers will only allow one list with no changes after it is submitted so it is best to use a snagging company.

If you have not completed then legally the property still belongs to the developer. That said you have a legal interest in the property. Due to this your solicitor will be able to arrange access to the property if the developer is proving to be difficult.