Key facts
- Developers registered with the New Homes Quality Code must provide an after-sales service for at least two years from completion.
- Under most new home warranties, including NHBC Buildmark, the builder is responsible for defects in years one and two. After that, cover usually narrows to structural defects.
- An end of warranty inspection is best booked around 18 to 22 months after completion, leaving time to report items and follow them up.
- Common findings include shrinkage cracking, nail pops, failed sealant, doors that have dropped, creaking floors and blocked weep vents.
What is an end of warranty inspection?
An end of warranty inspection is an independent snagging survey carried out towards the end of the builder's two-year warranty period. It records the defects that have appeared since you moved in, along with anything from your original snag list that was never put right, so they can be reported to the developer while they are still responsible.
Why the two-year point matters
The New Homes Quality Code requires developers to provide an after-sales service for at least two years from completion, and under most new home warranties the builder is responsible for defects during that period. From year three, cover usually moves to the warranty provider and narrows to structural defects, such as foundations, load-bearing walls and the roof structure. Cosmetic and workmanship issues found after the two years are unlikely to be covered.
A complaint about something that arose within the first two years can still be referred to the New Homes Ombudsman Service, but it needs to have been raised with the developer first. Read how long a developer has to fix snags.
When should I book it?
Aim for around 18 to 22 months after legal completion. By then the home has been through a full cycle of seasons and heating, so drying-out cracks and settlement have had time to show, but there is still time to report the items, chase the developer and escalate if needed before the two-year anniversary.
What does an end of warranty inspection usually find?
As a new home dries out and settles, a different set of issues appears from those found at handover. Typical items include:
- shrinkage cracking at wall and ceiling joints, around window boards and in plaster;
- nail pops in ceilings and walls;
- sealant that has split or unbonded around baths, showers, windows and door frames;
- doors that have dropped, rattle or no longer latch, and windows that no longer seal;
- creaking floors and stairs;
- loose taps and fittings, and rusting fixings;
- external items such as blocked or missing weep vents, air bricks too close to ground level, loose paving and roof or canopy issues.
Many developers make good shrinkage cracking and nail pops during the two-year period, so check your developer's aftercare policy and report them before it ends.
How Snagged carries out end of warranty inspections
We inspect the whole home inside and out, including the roof by drone where weather and airspace allow, and record every item in a photographed report with the relevant NHBC guidance and the action needed. The report includes a Developer Micro List the site team can print and work from. See our sample report.
Frequently asked questions
When should I have an end of warranty inspection?
Around 18 to 22 months after legal completion, so there is time to report the items and follow them up before the builder's two-year warranty period ends.
What happens after the two-year warranty period?
Under most new home warranties, including NHBC Buildmark, responsibility moves from the builder to the warranty provider from year three, and cover usually narrows to structural defects.
Are shrinkage cracks covered?
Shrinkage cracking is common as a new home dries out. Many developers will make it good during the first two years, so it should be reported before the two-year anniversary. Check your developer's aftercare policy.
Can you check items from my original snag list?
Yes. Send us your original list and we will check whether those items have been put right, as well as recording any new defects.
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Sources: New Homes Quality Code, Version 2 (March 2026), Part 3 · NHBC homeowners · New Homes Ombudsman Service. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Always check your own contract, warranty documents and the developer's aftercare policy.