In the news
New-build snags are real. The consequences can be hard to ignore.
News stories from across the country show how new-home buyers can face dozens—and sometimes hundreds—of snags, including leaks, cold rooms, drainage problems, lengthy repairs and significant disruption.
These stories reflect individual experiences and do not suggest that every new home will have the same problems. They do, however, show why clear evidence and an independent inspection can be valuable.
95% of buyers reported problems with their new home—including snags or defects—to their builder after moving in.
Source: Home Builders Federation, 19th National New Home Customer Satisfaction Survey, 2024.
What has been making the headlines?
Choose a category to see typical faults, original CheckSure analysis and selected reports from established publishers. Each page explains why the reported issues matter and what an independent visual inspection could help record.
Damp, mould, leaks and infestationsLeaks, water damage, mould growth, infestations and the disruption that can follow.
Heating, insulation and thermal comfortCold rooms, draughts, incomplete insulation, heating faults and higher running costs.
Plumbing, drainage and sewageLeaks, poor flow, drainage failures, damaged fittings and sewage-related incidents.
Repairs, complaints and customer impactLong repair programmes, repeat visits, complaints, lost time and homeowner stress.
Roofs, brickwork, windows and external defectsRoofing, brickwork, windows, junctions and external defects that expose the building.
Safety, habitability and severe disruptionCases involving essential services, loss of rooms, relocation or major remedial work.
Workmanship and internal finishesThe fit, finish and alignment problems that can build into a very long snag list.A snag list is not just a number
One poorly fitted door may be straightforward. A home with a long list of unrelated defects can mean repeated appointments, rooms being left out of use and months of correspondence. A basic list can quickly become difficult to manage: observations need to be clearly described, photographed, located and organised so that each item can be tracked through to completion.
CheckSure independently inspects the visible, safely accessible parts of your home and produces a comprehensive photographic report of the observations made. Although an inspection cannot prevent defects from occurring, a professionally prepared report can make them easier to understand and manage. It provides a clear, dated record that helps you communicate with those responsible and ask them to demonstrate that the recorded items have been properly addressed.
The challenge
- Large numbers of defects can quickly become difficult to organise and track.
- Water, heating and drainage problems can significantly affect daily life.
- Repeated visits and unsuccessful repairs can cause further damage and disruption.
What helps
- Clear descriptions, photographs and precise locations create a record against which each item can be tracked.
- A structured report helps everyone understand what was observed and whether the recorded items have subsequently been addressed.
Nationwide case-studies, clearly summarised for you
We link directly to original publishers and provide short, neutral summaries alongside our own inspection context. We do not reproduce publisher photographs, copy full articles or treat a reported allegation as independently proven.
Read the source
Every news report we reference links to the original article, allowing readers to review the full story, its context and any responses from the people or organisations involved.
See the pattern
We have brought related stories together under seven clear themes, making it easier to explore the types of problems reported by new-home buyers.
Keep perspective
The cases demonstrate that serious snagging experiences occur; they do not suggest that every buyer will experience them.