New-build snagging

Compare new-build snagging inspectors for the home you're buying

Instant quotes from local snagging inspectors. Compare fixed prices, earliest availability and reviews, then book your new-build inspection through Home.co.uk.

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Snagging is not a RICS-defined survey level the way a Level 2 or Level 3 is, so an inspector does not have to be a chartered surveyor. The inspectors compared here are property professionals all the same: many are chartered through RICS or accredited by the RPSA (Residential Property Surveyors Association), and others are experienced ex-site managers and construction specialists. What matters is that they are independent of the developer and accountable to you, not the housebuilder.

London · SW18

RICS regulated

★★★★★ 4.9 · 120 reviews

Service: Snagging survey
Earliest visit: Tue 9 Jun
Fixed quote: £300 inc. VAT

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New-Build Snagging Survey

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A new-build snagging survey is an independent inspection of a brand-new home that lists the finish and workmanship defects, the snags, for the developer to put right. It is not a Level 2 or Level 3 condition survey and it is not a mortgage valuation; it focuses purely on build quality. Arrange it before legal completion, while you still have leverage. On Home.co.uk you compare real, bookable quotes from local inspectors on price, availability and reviews.

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Is this the right one?

Who a Snagging survey is for.

You're buying a brand-new home from a developer and want an independent check before you accept the keys
You've reserved off-plan and want a pre-completion inspection booked before your legal completion date
You moved in recently and want to capture defects in writing while the developer's defect-liability period still applies
You're approaching the end of the first year and want an 11-month inspection before that initial warranty period lapses
You want one impartial list of snags to hand the housebuilder, rather than chasing the site manager item by item

What you get

What a snagging survey reveals

Poor decorative finish

Paint runs and patchy coverage, scuffed walls, blown or cracked plaster, gaps in skirting, architrave and coving, and badly finished joints throughout the new home.

Kitchen & bathroom defects

Misaligned or chipped units, scratched worktops, unsealed or lippy tiling, gaps in the silicone around baths and basins, and stiff or loose handles fresh from the fit-out.

Doors, windows & glazing

Doors that bind or won't latch, windows that don't operate or lock properly, failed draught seals, scratched glass and missing trickle vents.

External envelope

Mortar smears and damaged brickwork or render, poorly finished pointing, gutters and downpipes that aren't seated, and untidy driveways, paths and boundary treatments left by the site team.

Services not commissioned

Loose socket plates and switches, an unlabelled consumer unit, missing boiler or ventilation commissioning paperwork, and sockets or taps that haven't been function-tested.

Roof & loft details

Cracked, slipped or missing tiles visible from ground level, poorly bedded ridge tiles, untidy flashings, and a loft hatch, ladder or insulation left incomplete.

Incomplete & missing items

Work the developer simply hasn't finished: absent ironmongery, unfitted appliances, snagging left from earlier trades and items still on the builder's own punch list.

Urgency-graded snag list

Each defect is logged by room with photos and a severity grade, typically Critical, Incomplete, Cosmetic or a general note, so the developer can triage what to fix first.

A documented record for your warranty

Reference-numbered, time-stamped snags grouped by location, the evidence trail you need if a defect later escalates to an NHBC, LABC, Premier Guarantee or ICW warranty claim.

How much it costs

Snagging survey cost in 2026.

On Home.co.uk you book at a fixed price of £449 to £599 inc VAT, set by the number of bedrooms and whether it's a pre-completion or post-completion visit, and the quote you see is the price you pay

£300–£600

UK average roughly £300 to £600 depending on size

Price is driven mainly by the number of bedrooms and the size of the property, plus region and whether the inspection is pre- or post-completion. Larger detached homes and apartments with communal areas sit at the upper end.

How long it takes

Appointment and turnaround.

On-site / inspection

Around 2 to 4 hours on site for a typical house, longer for larger detached homes

Report / certificate

Usually within around 1 to 2 working days, often same day

Allow a few days from booking to report, and book pre-completion inspections well ahead of your completion date

Why compare here

Comparing that actually means comparing.

Rivals make you fill in a form and wait for a panel to email estimates and call you back. Home.co.uk shows you bookable quotes you can confirm in minutes.

Real fixed prices

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Live availability

See who can attend soonest and confirm online there and then — no waiting for a callback.

Genuine reviews

Real customer reviews help you weigh experience and service — the cheapest quote isn't always right.

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Regulated & accountable

Every provider is RICS / RPSA.

When you compare on Home.co.uk you're comparing like-for-like, accredited providers — not the cheapest unqualified option.

Common questions

Snagging survey, answered.

What is a new-build snagging survey?

A snagging survey is an independent inspection of a brand-new home that lists the finish and workmanship defects, the snags, for the developer to put right. The inspector works through every room and the exterior, recording each defect by location with photos and an urgency grade. It focuses on the quality of the build and finish, not on the structural or legal risks a Level 2 or Level 3 condition survey assesses.

When should I book a snagging survey?

Ideally just before legal completion, while you still have leverage and the developer is keen to hand over. Many buyers book a pre-completion inspection in the days before they accept the keys. If you've already moved in you can still book a post-completion snag, and inspections at around 11 months and before the two-year mark are common, tied to the developer's defect-liability period.

Is a snagging survey the same as a RICS Level 2 HomeBuyer survey?

No. A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey is a condition survey assessing structural and legal risks across set elements, used mainly when buying an older or second-hand home. A snagging survey is specific to new builds and lists cosmetic and workmanship defects room by room for the developer to fix. They serve different purposes, and some buyers commission both on the same new-build property.

Is a snagging survey the same as the lender's mortgage valuation?

No. A mortgage valuation is carried out for your lender to confirm the new home is worth roughly what they're lending; it is not a survey of condition and is not designed to protect you. A snagging survey is an independent inspection for your benefit, documenting finish and workmanship defects so the developer puts them right. They are entirely separate, so a valuation never doubles as a snag list.

How much does a snagging survey cost in 2026?

In the UK a snagging survey typically costs roughly £300 to £600, driven mainly by the number of bedrooms and the size of the home. On Home.co.uk you book at a fixed price of £449 to £599 including VAT, set by the bedroom count and whether the inspection is pre- or post-completion. The figure you see is the figure you pay, with no add-ons appearing at checkout.

What does a snagging inspector check?

The inspector walks the whole property recording defects by location: decorative finish, plaster, skirting and joinery; kitchen and bathroom units, worktops, tiling and sealant; doors, windows and glazing; external brickwork, render, guttering and driveway; services such as sockets, the consumer unit and boiler commissioning; and visible roof and loft details. Each snag is logged with photos and an urgency grade.

How long does a snagging inspection take and when do I get the report?

On site a typical house takes around two to four hours depending on size and the number of snags, with larger detached homes taking longer. Because inspectors capture defects digitally as they go, the report is usually back within one to two working days and often the same day, so you can hand the list to your developer quickly while there's still time to act before completion.

Do I do anything with the snag list, or does the inspector?

The snagging report is yours. You, or your conveyancer, pass the list to the developer, who is responsible for fixing the defects, usually before completion or within the defect-liability period afterwards. A reference-numbered, photographed and time-stamped list gives you firm evidence to hold the developer to. The inspector documents the snags; chasing the fixes sits with you and the housebuilder.

Can I still get a snagging survey after I've completed?

Yes. While a pre-completion inspection is ideal, you can book a snagging survey after you've moved in. Most new homes carry a developer defect-liability period, commonly two years, during which the housebuilder must fix reported defects, with a longer structural warranty behind it. A post-completion snag captures outstanding items in writing so you can raise them formally before that window closes.

What is an 11-month snagging inspection?

An 11-month inspection takes place just before the first year of the developer's defect-liability period ends. It's a last formal chance to log defects the developer is still obliged to fix under the new-build warranty before that initial period lapses. Some buyers book one pre-completion inspection and a second 11-month inspection to catch anything that has emerged after living in the home through its first seasons.

How does a snagging survey relate to my NHBC or LABC warranty?

Most new homes come with a warranty from a provider such as NHBC, LABC, Premier Guarantee or ICW. A snagging survey doesn't replace it; it documents defects so you can raise them with the developer in the first instance. A clearly referenced, photographed and dated snag list is exactly the kind of evidence trail a warranty provider expects if an unresolved defect later escalates to a formal claim.

Do snagging inspectors need to be RICS-qualified?

Not necessarily. Snagging is not a RICS-defined survey level like Level 2 or Level 3. Many inspectors are chartered surveyors, but plenty are RPSA-accredited or experienced construction professionals and ex-site managers. What matters is independence from the developer and a thorough, well-documented inspection. On Home.co.uk you can weigh each inspector on their reviews and experience before booking.

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