Industry concept
Snagging for new build homes, explained
The process of identifying and resolving defects in a new build home at or shortly after completion. Buyers increasingly commission independent snagging inspections; housebuilders need a workflow that resolves the list without becoming a service-desk bottleneck.
Applies to
- All new build residential development sold to private buyers
- Housing associations receiving handover from a housebuilder or contractor
Key dates
- 0-7 days post-completion: Buyer walkthrough and initial snag list typically produced.
- 0-24 months: Defect liability period covered by the NHQC and warranty.
What counts as a snag
A snag is any defect in the finished home: cosmetic (paint runs, misaligned door frames, chipped tiles), functional (heating not commissioned correctly, taps dripping, sockets loose) or structural (settlement cracks, water ingress).
The industry distinction between cosmetic and functional matters because response times and warranty exposure differ, but from the buyer's side a snag is a snag. A single unified list per plot avoids the argument.
The buyer's rights
Under the NHQC, buyers have the right to a snagging walk before or shortly after legal completion, an itemised response from the developer, and a defined route to escalate unresolved items. Increasingly, buyers commission independent snagging inspectors (RPSA, RICS or similar) rather than relying on the developer's inspection.
Where snagging goes wrong for housebuilders
The failure mode is not usually the physical work: it is the coordination. A snag list arrives, gets emailed to a site manager, gets forwarded to a subcontractor, gets partially fixed, gets partially forgotten, and the buyer chases via three different email threads.
A structured workflow (list attached to the plot, contractor assigned, resolution timestamped, sign-off recorded) turns a snag list from an inbox problem into a tracked queue.
Common questions
Is a snag the same as a defect?
In practice yes, but the terminology varies. 'Snag' tends to describe the near-completion list; 'defect' tends to describe issues raised during the 24-month liability period. The workflow is the same.
Can a buyer refuse to complete because of snags?
For cosmetic snags, generally no. For material defects that affect habitability, yes. The NHQC framework provides the escalation route.
How does Ubrix handle snagging?
Ubrix Smart Triage assesses each item as it comes in, routes cosmetic and functional snags to the right contractor via Auto-Assign, and tracks resolution against SLA. The buyer can see the status in the Buyer App, which cuts down 'is it done yet' enquiries.
See how Ubrix captures the evidence you need.
Ubrix stores compliance evidence against the plot, not on shared drives. Timestamps, sign-offs and documents come out as an audit trail on demand.