Expert shares his 5 tips on checking for defects in newly-built homes that could cost a fortune

A leading property care specialist has shared his advice on how to best tackle defects in newly-built homes – as demand for the properties dips.

According to Rightmove data the demand for newly-built properties in the UK is actually falling with just 17.7% of new-build listings across Britain marked as “sold subject to contract” (SSTC) in Q3.

That’s down 0.5% on the previous quarter and 1.1% year on year.

Rising borrowing costs, affordability pressures and the uncertainty surrounding government housing policy ahead of the Autumn Statement is being blamed for the drop.

But many buyers might also be put off by defects in new-builds which can often impact owners.

George Edwards, managing director of Timberwise, said the issue of defects in new-builds is a common “issue faced by buyers” which “can add an additional layer of stress to what is already a fraught process”.

He said: “People are moving into new homes every day and on every estate there are going to be properties which have been built with some snags.

“Snags are always a pain to find and following the hassles of buying a house and moving, getting small problems sorted can fall by the wayside simply because you’re exhausted.

“However, if ignored, these snags can lead to much bigger problems in the future and you can find yourself having to foot extensive repair bills.”

Explaining the best way to approach dealing with problems, he said: “You should set out to report minor cosmetic snags promptly, within the first seven days of collecting your keys.

“This process then gives you the opportunity to explore your new home in detail and potentially uncover bigger issues that need to be addressed in your two-year defects liability period.

“Use your camera or phone to collect any evidence of problems and start a snagging list, note where the issue is, when you discovered it, and log a detailed description.

“It’s important to do this because if you overlook issues that are more than cosmetic, this could potentially lead to major issues, like subsidence, roof failure, and structural cracks.”

Here, Mr Edwards highlights the five most common issues that are encountered when snagging a new home:

1. Poor Pointing

Make sure that if you suspect bad pointing in your property you immediately flag it on a snag list, as it can lead to penetrating damp setting in to your exterior facing walls.

2. Bad Vents

Check for badly-installed or blocked vents as these are easily overlooked, but poor ventilation can lead to the onset of condensation-based damp and the spread of black mould.

3. Improperly Installed Roofing

Even a small leak in a roof can expose timber to the potential of dry and wet rot – make sure that your roof is not prone to leaks either by checking after rain, or by having a survey done to ensure that you will not face problems in the longer term.

4. Poor Insulation

Check loft spaces thoroughly, as it can lead to condensation within cavity walls below the boards in a loft, soaking into the insulation and rendering it useless, damp, and a potential nest for black mould growth.

5. Bad Guttering

If you have gutters which are overflowing, leaking, or simply not draining correctly, then this could lead to penetrating damp, ruining your brickwork and interior aspects like wallpaper and plasterboard.

For more information and free advice, visit www.timberwise.co.uk