The moment you collect your keys on a new build is one of the most exciting moments in the whole home-buying process. It's also the moment when most people's focus narrows to getting moved in as quickly as possible — which is understandable, but means snags often go unnoticed until they've been living with them for months.
Developers are legally required to fix defects under the NHBC Buildmark warranty (or equivalent), but the process of getting them to do so is considerably smoother if you log everything in writing before you move in rather than discovering it six months later.
The pre-move-in inspection
Most developers offer a "key demonstration" or "home demo" appointment — usually 30 to 60 minutes before your actual key collection. This is your opportunity to walk through the property with a developer representative and note anything that needs attention.
Bring a notebook and your phone for photographs. You want everything in writing and photographed — verbal acknowledgements aren't useful later when you're chasing a fix.
What to check — room by room
Throughout the property:
- Open and close every door. They should open fully, close completely and not catch on the frame. Sticking doors in a new build are common and easy to fix early, difficult to live with later.
- Check every window opens, closes and locks correctly.
- Test every light switch and socket. Press a plug into each socket and switch it on. Note any that don't work.
- Look at the walls in raking light (low-angle light, like a torch held parallel to the wall). This reveals dips, ridges and uneven plasterwork that aren't visible in normal lighting.
- Check all skirting boards are properly fixed and mitred cleanly at corners.
- Look for gaps between worktops and walls, between tiles and surfaces, around bath/shower edges. These should all be sealed.
Kitchen:
- Open every cupboard and drawer. Check they align properly, the hinges aren't loose and soft-close mechanisms work.
- Run the taps — hot and cold. Check for adequate pressure. Check under the sink for drips.
- Run the dishwasher, washing machine connections if they're plumbed in. Check for leaks at pipe joints.
- Test the extractor fan. Check it vents to outside rather than recirculating — newly installed systems sometimes have the ducting connected incorrectly.
Bathrooms and en-suites:
- Check all tiles for chips or uneven grout lines. Grout issues are common and much easier to fix before the room is furnished.
- Run the shower. Check the temperature control, pressure and that the tray drains efficiently.
- Check the toilet flushes correctly and refills to the right level.
- Look for silicone beading around the bath, shower tray and where tiles meet surfaces — it should be continuous and neatly applied.
📱 Photograph everything — dated photos taken on your phone create a clear record of the condition of every room at handover. This protects you if a developer later claims a defect was caused by you rather than being present at completion.
Outside:
- Check the driveway surface — no cracking, proper drainage slope away from the house.
- Gate hinges and locks if there's a garden gate.
- External doors — the same checks as internal doors plus draught sealing and weatherproofing.
- Any outside taps — run them and check the isolation valve inside works correctly.
Logging snags properly
Most developers now have an online portal for logging snags — NHBC has one, and many larger developers (Taylor Wimpey, Barratt, Persimmon) have their own systems. Use these. Email is also fine. What doesn't work is a verbal mention to the site manager — it's too easy to be lost or denied later.
When logging a snag, be specific. "Kitchen cupboard door not closing properly" is less useful than "Kitchen cupboard door, second from left below sink, does not close without lifting — hinge adjustment required." The more specific you are, the less room there is for misunderstanding.
The two-year warranty period
Under NHBC Buildmark, the developer is responsible for fixing defects reported in the first two years of occupation. After two years, the NHBC structural warranty covers major structural defects for a further eight years, but the developer's direct obligation for minor defects ends.
This means the two-year point is important. In the months before it expires, it's worth doing another walkthrough with fresh eyes — things you've lived with and stopped noticing may well be defects the developer should fix before their obligation ends.
What developers won't fix
Not everything that seems wrong is a defect. New build properties are constructed from materials that expand, contract and settle — hairline cracks in plasterwork, for example, are generally considered a natural consequence of a building drying out rather than a structural defect, and most developers will patch these at the six-month point as standard but won't consider them emergency snags.
Cosmetic scratches or marks that aren't present in the pre-move-in photos, damage that occurs during your removal, or decoration choices you've made yourself — these won't be covered. This is one of the reasons a good removal company takes care of your new home from the moment they arrive — floor protection, door frame protection, and a team that moves furniture carefully rather than dragging it.