New build snagging period

It depends on developers, however, generally speaking, the snagging period can be split into 2 sections: within the first 2 months and then before the end of 2 years.

2-month snagging period

It is important to raise your snagging list with the builder within 2 months of completion because it is in line with the HBF survey deadline. The HBF survey is a scheme most of the larger developers operate as it independently determines customer satisfaction in questions such as “Would you recommend your builder to a friend?”. The responses to this question alone ultimately determine how many stars they are awarded and displayed on the flags you see when entering the site!

So, with this in mind, the reason the 2-month period is important is that the site team will typically be attentive to your snag list in haste for the HBF satisfaction survey to land on your doorstep. The sales and site team are rewarded for good responses so it is in their best interests that you score them well!

Typically after the survey expires or has been completed, the site team may not be as attentive to minor issues. This is why we slightly changed the way we raise snags on our reports after 2 months of completion; focusing on more important (deemed ‘out of tolerance’) snagging issues rather than cosmetic.

2-year snagging period 

There is a second HBF survey that is sent out to customers 9 months after completion, but interestingly these findings are not published. With this in mind, it is now the 2-year snagging period that’s important to consider. Developers provide a 2-year warranty for defects that are deemed out of tolerance, classed by the NHBC / LABC etc.

10 year warranty

After the 2-year period, you would need to raise a dispute with the NHBC / LABC / (other) directly but they will only be willing to investigate more major issues.  Approximately 70% of the claims made with the NHBC are roofing issues, to illustrate this point.

The NHBC/others do check your property at various stages during the build as they are there to ensure that building regulations have been adhered to, but they do not pay attention to the quality of finish… which is where a snagging survey is so important.
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For more information about the snagging periods and what sort of survey would be best for your property, call our office and we’d be happy to discuss!