Buying a brand-new home in Blackpool or across Lancashire? Congratulations — but don't move in without a professional snagging survey. Blackpool Surveyors conducts new build snagging inspections across the Fylde Coast, and the results consistently surprise buyers. Even high-quality new developments have defects — and identifying them before you complete is almost always easier and less stressful than chasing the developer months after you've moved in.
What Is a Snagging Survey?
A snagging survey is a detailed inspection of a newly built property, carried out before or shortly after legal completion. The purpose is to identify all the defects, incomplete works, and non-compliant finishes — the "snags" — that the developer should rectify under the terms of the purchase agreement and any applicable warranties (such as an NHBC Buildmark warranty).
Snagging covers everything from cosmetic issues (paint splashes, scratched glass, poorly fitted skirting boards) through to potentially significant building defects (incorrectly installed insulation, poor drainage, non-compliant fire stopping). A thorough snagging list gives you documented evidence to present to the developer and a basis to require rectification before or immediately after handover.
Why New Builds Have Defects
It might seem counterintuitive — why would a brand-new property have problems? The reality of the UK residential construction industry is that new homes are built to tight timescales, often under significant commercial pressure to complete by a financial quarter or reservation deadline. Build quality supervision can be variable, and the number of individual tradespeople involved in a modern house build — bricklayers, roofers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, plasterers, decorators — creates significant scope for errors and omissions.
Industry research from the Consumer Code for Home Builders suggests that the majority of new build buyers experience snagging issues, and a significant proportion encounter problems that require ongoing attention during the two-year defects liability period. An independent professional snagging survey gives you the leverage and documentation to hold the developer to account.
What Our Blackpool Snagging Inspections Typically Find
At Blackpool Surveyors, our snagging inspections cover all elements of the new build. The most common categories of defects we identify are:
External Defects
- Brickwork with damaged or missing mortar joints; mortar smears on facing brickwork
- Poorly fitted or misaligned roof tiles; damaged or missing ridge tiles
- Incorrectly positioned or poorly sealed external joinery (windows and doors)
- Drainage falls that are incorrect, potentially causing standing water
- Paths and driveway surfaces cracked or unevenly laid
- Garden fencing not plumb or securely fixed
Internal Structural and Services Defects
- Gaps in fire stopping around service penetrations — a Building Regulations compliance issue
- Insulation incorrectly installed or missing in accessible areas (loft, floor voids)
- Heating system not balanced correctly; radiators not achieving design temperatures
- Plumbing connections not fully tightened; minor leaks at joints
- Electrical sockets not securely mounted; covers not fully flush
- Ventilation systems not functioning correctly or ducted to wrong locations
Finishes Defects
- Plasterwork with visible rippling, poor joints at abutments, or untreated drying shrinkage cracks
- Paint with visible brush marks, misses, roller stipple, or runs
- Kitchen and bathroom tiling with grout voids, lippage (uneven tile edges), or poor mitre joints
- Joinery with gaps, poor mitres, or visible fixing holes unfilled
- Scratched glass — a very common and frustrating issue on new builds
- Floor coverings with bubbles, joins visible, or cut edges not properly finished
Average Snags Found on a New Build Inspection
Our snagging inspections on new build properties across the Fylde Coast typically identify between 80 and 200 individual defects. On some larger or more complex new builds, the snag list can exceed 250 items. Even what appears to be a well-finished show home quality property routinely produces 50+ snags on independent inspection.
When to Book a Snagging Survey
The ideal time to commission a snagging survey is before legal completion. This gives you maximum leverage — you can require the developer to address critical snags as a condition of completion, or at least have a documented list from day one of ownership.
However, you cannot always control the timing, and many buyers commission a snagging survey within the first few weeks of moving in. This is still highly valuable — most new build warranties require you to notify the developer of defects within the two-year defects liability period, and doing so with a professional snagging list is far more effective than informal complaints.
The developer is legally entitled to access to inspect and remedy notified defects within a reasonable period. A professional snagging list makes the process formal and documented.
NHBC Warranties and the Developer's Obligations
Most new build homes in the UK come with an NHBC Buildmark warranty, which provides:
- Two-year builder's warranty: The developer is responsible for repairing defects notified during this period.
- Ten-year structural warranty: NHBC provides insurance cover for major structural defects for 10 years from completion.
If a developer refuses to address legitimate snags, you can escalate to NHBC's resolution service. Having a professional snagging report as evidence significantly strengthens your position. At Blackpool Surveyors, our snagging reports are formatted to make it straightforward to present findings to the developer and NHBC if required.
How Much Does a Snagging Survey Cost in Blackpool?
A professional snagging survey from Blackpool Surveyors for a new build in Lancashire typically costs between £300 and £600, depending on the property size. For a standard three or four-bedroom new build house, the fee is typically £350–£500.
Given that developers frequently charge for remedial works after the defects liability period expires, and that defects identified early are far cheaper to fix than those discovered later, the return on investment from a professional snagging survey is consistently positive.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Build Snagging
Can I do a snagging survey myself?
You can compile your own snagging list, and it's worth doing as a record for your own reference. However, a professional surveyor will identify defects that are not obvious to the untrained eye — particularly Building Regulations compliance issues, structural matters, and services-related defects. Many significant snags are found in loft spaces, under floors, and behind panels that buyers don't typically inspect.
Will the developer try to prevent an independent snagging survey?
You have the right to commission an independent inspection before legal completion, but the developer must consent to access. Some developers try to prevent or delay pre-completion inspections. If this happens, commission the survey immediately after completion — you will still be within the two-year defects liability period and your rights are protected.
Is a snagging survey different from a standard RICS survey?
Yes. A standard RICS survey (Level 2 or Level 3) is designed to assess the condition of an existing building and identify defects relative to its age and type. A snagging survey is specifically designed for new builds and assesses workmanship and specification compliance against current Building Regulations and the developer's own specification.
How long does a new build snagging inspection take?
A thorough snagging inspection of a typical new build three-bedroom house takes approximately 2–4 hours. The written report is typically provided within 2–3 working days of the inspection.
What areas do you cover for new build snagging?
Blackpool Surveyors covers snagging surveys across all major new build developments on the Fylde Coast, including Blackpool, Poulton-le-Fylde, Cleveleys, Thornton, Lytham St Annes, Kirkham, and Preston. See our full areas covered page.
Book a New Build Snagging Survey
Buying a new home in Blackpool or across Lancashire? Contact Blackpool Surveyors for a professional snagging inspection before you complete. Protect your investment from day one.
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