New Build Inspections - Nationwide Snagging

20/10/2026

Been told a snag in your new build is “within tolerance”?

That phrase comes from NHBC Standards Chapter 9.1, the rulebook housebuilders use to judge the finish of your new home. It sets out exactly how walls, ceilings, floors, doors, tiling and paintwork should be assessed, and even where you should stand and what light to use when checking them.

Knowing what it says can make all the difference when you report defects to your builder, especially in your first two years. Our quick guide explains what counts as acceptable, what’s considered normal, and why “within tolerance” isn’t always the end of the conversation.

Read it here: https://www.newbuildinspections.com/news/is-that-snag-acceptable-a-quick-guide-to-nhbc-chapter-9-1/

21/09/2026

Your new build home is judged against a detailed rulebook that most buyers never see.

The LABC Warranty Technical Manual sets the standard for how a home should be built, from the ground beneath the foundations to the finishes on the walls, and in several areas it demands more than the legal minimum. If your home is covered by an LABC Warranty, it pays to understand what that standard actually expects.

In our latest article we break down what the manual is, how it's structured, what changed in the newest version, and why an independent snagging inspection is still the best way to make sure your home meets the standard you've paid for.

Read it here: https://www.newbuildinspections.com/knowledgebase/labc-warranty-technical-manual/

Understand the LABC Warranty Technical Manual and what its standards mean for your new build home, plus why an independent snagging inspection still matters.

07/09/2026

Your new build garage is built to the same NHBC standards as the rest of your home, but those rules are written for builders, not buyers.

Our plain-language guide works through NHBC Standards Chapter 10.1 clause by clause, covering everything from foundations and floors to walls, roofs, security and services. It also explains what a snagging inspection can and cannot check once the garage is finished.

https://www.newbuildinspections.com/news/new-build-garage-what-should-you-expect/

22/07/2026

New build home? Don't assume it's perfect. Our independent snagging experts spot the defects so you can get them fixed before they become a problem.

17/07/2026

NHBC Buildmark Choice is the warranty and insurance policy designed for landlords and long leaseholders, and it pays to understand exactly what it does and doesn't cover. Our guide breaks down the three sections of cover, the financial limits, the rules around shared ownership and staircasing, and how to raise a claim.

https://www.newbuildinspections.com/warranty-providers/nhbc-buildmark-choice-warranty/

NHBC Buildmark Choice explained for landlords and long leaseholders of newly built rental homes: what the policy covers, financial limits, shared ownership and claims.

07/07/2026

Found a defect in your new build and getting nowhere with the developer? Here's exactly how to escalate it and get it sorted.

03/07/2026

Think your brand new home is flawless? The data says otherwise. Two separate studies, a decade apart, both found the SAME shocking result: an average of 141 defects in a single new build home. That's not a typo. And many of those faults haven't changed in over 30 years. From rushed half-year-end completions to the gaps in how the industry checks its own work, our latest blog breaks down exactly why this keeps happening, and what you can do to protect yourself before you complete.

https://www.newbuildinspections.com/news/141-defects-in-a-single-new-home-what-two-decades-of-snagging-data-tells-buyers

Buying new? Don't take "finished" at face value. Our inspectors work only for you, never the developer.

21/06/2026

Buying a new build? Those trees in the garden might matter more than you think. Here's what to look out for.

03/06/2026

When you walk around a new build for the first time, you notice the kitchen, the brickwork, the garden. What you don't see is the ground it's all sitting on, and that's arguably the most important part of the whole home.

NHBC Chapter 4.1 sets out exactly what your developer should have done to assess and manage the ground before construction began. From desk studies and walkover surveys to trial pits, contamination testing and verification reports, there's a lot that should have happened on your plot before the first brick was laid.

Our latest blog post breaks it all down in plain English, and explains what paperwork you can ask your developer to produce.

https://www.newbuildinspections.com/news/the-ground-beneath-your-new-build-what-your-developer-should-have-checked/

22/05/2026

Moving into a new build with solar thermal panels on the roof? They're a great bit of kit, but only if your developer has installed them properly. NHBC Standards Chapter 8.5 sets out exactly what's expected, from coastal-grade fixings to the homeowner pack you should receive on day one.

We've broken it all down in plain English on the blog, including what to look out for at handover and where a snagging inspection can help.

https://www.newbuildinspections.com/news/solar-thermal-hot-water-in-new-build-homes-what-buyers-need-to-know/