December 4, 2025

Snagging: What do landlords need to know?

The wait is over, and your brand-new property is complete! What’s next? Taking ownership of a brand-new property is an exciting time, but it also comes with a lot of jargon.

‍

One term all owners of new-build properties will encounter is ‘snagging’. It’s a construction term that only comes up when a property is handed over – but what does it mean? Here’s everything you need to know about snagging as a landlord.

‍

What is meant by ‘snagging’?

‍

Everything is under warranty when you buy a new-build property. All fixtures and fittings are brand new, and the building is at the start of its life. That removes a whole layer of work that landlords have to deal with when buying an older property.

‍

However, there’s no such thing as a perfect build due to the nature of construction:

New houses need to settle as moisture leaves the materials used to build the property. That causes movements which show up as cracks and gaps.
Construction workers are human and may make small mistakes, no matter how high-quality the eventual home.

Those facts mean there needs to be a snagging process, consisting of:

Thorough checks of every aspect of a property.
A list of all small faults being made.
Workers are then appointed to fix these problems.

‍

How does the snagging process work from the point of view of a landlord?

‍

Snagging is a perfectly normal part of buying a new-build home. The need for snagging does not mean that the property is faulty or that you have made a bad purchase. It happens with every single new-build home in the world.

‍

The first round of snagging checks will be carried out by the developer before handover. They will fix a whole range of issues before you even see the completed property and bring it up to standard.

‍

However, it’s good practice to also do your own snagging checks after handover. We would recommend starting with the following:

Try every light switch and door handle to ensure they work.
Open every cupboard and window to check they open smoothly and close securely.
Turn on all the taps and showers to check the water flow.
Test the heating and any appliances included with the property.
Inspect surfaces and finishes on all walls and floors
Check all gardens and balconies, including exterior lighting.

Once you have your list, you can appoint a contractor to fix all the issues.

‍

If you want a ready-made checklist, the National House Building Council (NHBC) has created a free checklist for property owners here.

‍

Additional snagging surveys – are they worthwhile for landlords?

‍

If you’re not comfortable or don’t have time to do it yourself, you can commission a snagging survey from a professional. This could be an especially useful option for overseas landlords who cannot visit the property in person but want to make sure it is up to the required standard.

‍

The survey will be carried out by a surveyor with experience in new-build snagging. They will produce a list for you, and can even recommend appropriate tradespeople to carry out any required works if needed.

‍

What are the benefits of snagging for landlords?

‍

The National Landlords Association has highlighted two potential benefits for landlords in receipt of a brand new property:

Gives you peace of mind and the time to correct any errors before tenants move in.
It will help you manage expectations with tenants and can serve as a reference in case of disputes with tenants in the future.

‍

The practical effect of those two considerations is that it could help you to maximise the rent you can charge, and then protect your finances in case of a dispute in the future.

‍

Put another way, it can be a tool which allows landlords to maximise their return on investment.

‍

Beginning the tenancy after snagging

‍

Once you have completed the snagging process to your satisfaction, you can begin the process of finding a tenant. If you appoint a professional property management and letting agent, they will be able to start the process as the snagging is completed, so that a tenant can move in at the earliest possible opportunity.

‍

Doing so will limit the potential void period and ensure you start receiving rental income as early as you possibly can.

‍

Want to learn more about the snagging process and how to rent your new-build property? Contact the Northbank Residential team today.