Local guide, Luton and surrounding areas

Snagging inspections in Luton

A snag is anything in a new or refurbished home that is unfinished, damaged or not built as it should be. Finding them before handover is far cheaper than chasing them after people have moved in. SML carries out independent snagging inspections for developers, contractors, housing associations and landlords.

What we look for

A snagging inspection is a room by room check of the finished work. Typical items include:

• Doors and windows that stick, do not lock or have damaged frames
• Sealant missing or split around baths, showers and sinks
• Extractor fans not ducted outside or not working
• Cracks, uneven plaster and poor decoration
• Loose or rocking paving, poor drainage falls and missing pointing outside
• Kitchen units out of line, damaged worktops and missing trims
• Missing fire stopping, smoke alarms or labels where they can be seen

Each item is photographed, located and given a risk rating, so the site team knows exactly what to fix first.

Before handover, not after

Most contractors aim for zero defects at handover, but on a busy programme things get missed. An independent check in the last few weeks gives the site team a clean list to close out, and gives the client confidence that the homes are ready. It also cuts down the number of call backs in the first months, which is where costs and complaints build up.

Once homes are handed over, the same approach applies at the end of the defects liability period. See our guide to DLP inspections.

What you receive

• A schedule for every home, with photographs and locations
• Risk ratings, so urgent items stand out
• A scheme summary for the project manager or client
• A format the site team can tick off as they go

Buying a new build home yourself?

If you are a homebuyer rather than a developer, our sister service Snag Spotter offers snagging inspections for people who have just moved into a new build home.

Common questions

How long does an inspection take?

A typical two or three bedroom home takes around an hour to an hour and a half to snag properly. Larger schemes are planned plot by plot to fit around the site programme.

Do you need the site to stop work?

No. We work around the trades, follow the site induction and rules, and agree the order of plots with the site manager beforehand.

SML also covers RAMS and CDM documents, CHAS and SSIP applications, DLP and defects inspections, building condition surveys and damp and mould reports.