For new build buyers · England & Wales
Your new build, held to account
Completion dates that slip, snag lists that get ignored, a two-year warranty on a timer. House Chapter expects all of it: honest delay-aware predictions, a photo-evidenced snagging log, and chase letters that cite your actual rights.
Plot 47 · snagging log
Live example- ✓Paint run, bedroom 2: logged
- ✓Sticking door, kitchen: logged
- ✓Dripping tap, en-suite: logged
- ✓Photos fingerprinted as evidence
- ✓Chase letter generated
Two-year warranty
612 days left to report
Ombudsman escalation included when they drag
Honest completion predictions
Our tracker adds 56 to 182 days for new builds, because that's reality. Plan your mortgage offer, notice periods and removals around a truthful range, not the sales office's optimism.
The snagging log
Walk each room, photograph every defect, rate its severity. Your list stays organised, timestamped and stored in a private vault, ready for the developer, an inspector or the Ombudsman.
The two-year warranty countdown
Your builder must fix defects reported in writing within two years of completion. The clock is on your dashboard, and it turns red when the window is closing.
Chase letters with teeth
One tidy letter listing every outstanding snag by room, citing the warranty, requesting a response within 14 days, and escalating to your warranty provider and the New Homes Ombudsman if ignored.
£3,000 to £5,000
the typical value of defects found in a professional new build inspection, all fixable at the developer's cost when reported in time. The paper trail is everything.
New build buyers ask us
How long can a new build completion be delayed?
Realistically, months. Our prediction engine adds 56 to 182 days for new builds because that's what the data shows, and we'd rather tell you an honest range than a hopeful date. Track your mortgage offer expiry against it: offers usually last 3 to 6 months and re-applying after a slip costs real money.
What is snagging and when should I do it?
Snagging is finding and reporting your new home's defects: paint runs, sticking doors, dripping taps and worse. Your builder must fix defects reported in writing within the two-year warranty period, so walk the house systematically in the first weeks and log everything with photos.
Do I still need a professional snagging inspection?
They're worth considering: a professional inspection costs £300 to £600 and typically finds £3,000 to £5,000 of issues. House Chapter complements it rather than replacing it: your log keeps every defect (yours and the inspector's) organised, evidenced and chased until fixed.
What if the developer ignores my snag list?
Report in writing, keep the evidence, and escalate. House Chapter generates a chase letter that cites the two-year builder warranty, sets a response deadline, and escalates to your warranty provider and the New Homes Ombudsman if things drag.