Buying a brand-new home feels like a safe bet — no worn-out boiler to inherit, no dodgy previous owner's DIY to untangle. And yet, in 15 years of carrying out snagging surveys in Hounslow and across West London, I've consistently found that new builds are far from defect-free. On average, our inspections identify between 40 and 80 defects per property. Here's why a professional snagging survey should be non-negotiable for any new-build buyer.
What Is a Snagging Survey?
A snagging survey is a detailed, professional inspection of a newly built home, typically carried out before legal completion (though it can also be done up to two years after). The surveyor goes through the property systematically, documenting every defect — from cosmetic blemishes like chipped tiles and poor paintwork, to functional issues like sticking doors and misaligned fixtures, to potentially serious structural or workmanship problems.
The output is a formal snagging list — a comprehensive, itemised report that you present to the developer. The developer is then legally obliged to rectify the defects before handover. Once you've completed, the power dynamic shifts; getting a developer to fix issues post-completion is significantly harder.
What Do Our Snagging Surveys Actually Find?
I'll give you a real example. In early 2025, we were commissioned to carry out a snagging survey on a 3-bedroom new build flat in the Brentford area of Hounslow — part of a larger riverside development. The property had been marketed as finished to a high specification. We found 63 defects, including:
- Front door frame not correctly sealed — cold air leakage and potential damp ingress
- Cracked lintel above the main bedroom window — a structural concern
- Bathroom extractor fan not connected to the outside
- Missing cavity wall insulation in one external wall (identified by thermal imaging)
- Floor screed cracked in two rooms
- 10 instances of poor plastering or painting finish
- Kitchen unit fixings not secured to structural wall
- Hot water cylinder incorrectly commissioned
Every single one of these was fixed by the developer before our client completed. Without the survey, they'd have moved into a property with a cracked lintel and a bathroom that was silently building up moisture behind the walls.
Isn't the NHBC Warranty Enough?
This is the most common question we hear from new-build buyers, and the answer is a firm no. An NHBC Buildmark warranty (or similar developer warranty) covers major structural defects for 10 years — but "major structural defects" is a narrowly defined category. Hundreds of the defects we routinely find in snagging surveys would not be covered by a standard developer warranty.
More importantly, an NHBC warranty is not a substitute for a snagging inspection. The NHBC inspector's role is to confirm that the property meets building regulations — not to itemise every cosmetic and workmanship defect on your behalf.
"A developer warranty is the minimum safety net. A snagging survey is the proper quality check that protects your investment." — Sarah Okafor, Hounslow Surveyors
When Should You Have a Snagging Survey?
Ideally: before you legally complete. This is when you have the greatest leverage — the developer has not yet received your final payment. Most developers will allow access for a snagging survey in the two weeks before the agreed completion date.
Some developers resist or delay access. Don't let them. You have a right to inspect the property you're purchasing. If a developer refuses access, that in itself is a red flag worth noting.
If you've already completed, don't despair — under NHBC guidelines and consumer protection legislation, developers are typically responsible for snagging defects reported within the first two years of occupation. A post-completion snagging survey can still be valuable.
Snagging Survey FAQs
You can walk around and note obvious issues, but a professional snagging surveyor will identify many defects that are invisible to an untrained eye — especially structural, thermal and mechanical issues. On average, professional surveys identify 3–4 times more defects than buyer self-inspections.
Typically 2–4 hours depending on property size. We go through every room, the external envelope, the roof (where accessible) and all fitted appliances and services.
Our reports are prepared by qualified professional surveyors and are fully documented with photographs and measurements. They are difficult to dispute. If a developer refuses to remediate a defect that is clearly non-compliant with building regulations or NHBC standards, you have formal routes to escalate — including the NHBC Resolution service and, ultimately, the courts.
Buying a New Build in Hounslow?
Don't complete without a professional snagging survey. Our surveyors work fast — we can typically inspect within 3–5 working days of your booking.
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