These terms and conditions apply to all snagging and pre-completion inspections booked with Snagged Building Services Ltd ("Snagged", "we", "us"). By confirming your booking you confirm that you have read and agree to these terms.
1.Booking confirmation
By confirming that you wish to book an inspection, you confirm that you have read and agree to these terms and conditions. Your booking is confirmed once you have received written confirmation of the date and time from us.
2.The inspection
The inspection will be carried out with reasonable care and skill and, where applicable, in accordance with the inspection principles and guidance issued by the Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA), the New Homes Quality Board (NHQB), relevant warranty-provider guidance and normal health and safety requirements.
The inspection is a visual, non-invasive assessment of the areas that are safely accessible on the day. Concealed construction, blocked areas, locked rooms and parts of the property that cannot be safely reached may not be inspected.
The report records the condition of the property at the time of the inspection. It is not a guarantee that every defect will be identified, particularly where a defect is hidden, intermittent or develops after the visit.
The client should ensure utilities and installed systems are available for testing where possible. Items that are disconnected, incomplete, inaccessible or not operating on the day may be recorded as untested.
3.Access and appointments
The client is responsible for arranging access with the developer, sales team, site manager, estate agent or other relevant person before the appointment.
Where access is delayed, refused or restricted, the inspection may need to be shortened, rearranged or limited to the areas made available. An additional visit required because access was not available may be chargeable.
The inspector may stop or limit any part of the inspection where there is a health and safety concern, active construction work, unsafe access or another condition that makes inspection unreasonable.
4.Pre-completion inspections
The client accepts that the property may not be fully completed when a pre-completion inspection takes place. Some finishes, fittings, services or external works may therefore be incomplete or unavailable for inspection.
The developer may restrict the inspection time, the areas that can be accessed or the equipment that can be used. The report will be limited to the condition and access available on the day.
The developer or its contractors may carry out further work after the inspection and before legal completion. This work may cause additional damage or reveal further defects that were not present or visible during the inspection.
The homeowner is responsible for checking the property again at completion and reporting any new damage or defects within the developer's stated reporting period. This is commonly 5 to 10 days for cosmetic damage, but the client should confirm the actual deadline with the developer.
5.Drone use
A drone may be used where it is helpful, lawful and safe to do so. Drone use is at the inspector's discretion and is not guaranteed as part of every inspection.
A drone will only be flown when wind, weather, visibility, available space and nearby people or property allow safe operation.
Flights may be restricted or prohibited near airports, prisons, military sites, congested areas or other controlled airspace. Local site rules and applicable aviation requirements will be followed.
For a pre-completion inspection, drone use will only take place with the developer's or site representative's permission.
6.Thermal imaging
Thermal imaging is a supporting inspection tool and does not replace opening up the building fabric or specialist testing.
Between October and April, where temperature conditions are suitable, thermal imaging may be used to look for indications of cold air ingress, cold spots, possible insulation irregularities and heating performance.
Between May and September, the smaller difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures can make building-fabric observations unreliable. During this period, thermal imaging will normally be limited to checking the operation and heat distribution of the heating system where it can be safely activated.
Thermal findings are affected by weather, sunlight, heating use, ventilation and the condition of the property on the day. Any suspected issue may require further investigation by the developer or an appropriate specialist.
7.Reports and payment
An invoice will be issued after the inspection and before the report is released.
Payment is requested either by electronic bank transfer to the company's business account or by cash at the point of survey.
The report will be released once full payment has been received.
Reports are normally completed on the same day as the inspection and are usually sent during the evening because of the time required to review photographs, prepare the findings and complete quality checks.
An unusually large property, a high number of findings or circumstances outside our control may occasionally delay issue. The client will be informed where this occurs.
8.Sending the report to the developer or agent
When forwarding the report, we recommend sending it directly to the developer's customer care team or aftercare contact, and to the warranty provider if applicable. Keep a written record of the date the report was sent and any acknowledgement received.
Most developers and warranty providers operate strict reporting windows within which defects must be logged. These vary by developer and by warranty provider, and are typically:
- Cosmetic items, commonly 5 to 10 days from legal completion
- End of defects period, usually the first anniversary of legal completion
- Warranty structural cover, up to 10 years for major structural items under most new-home warranties
These are the developer's or warranty provider's deadlines, not ours, and can differ between builders. Please confirm the actual deadlines that apply to your property with the developer and warranty provider as soon as possible after receiving the report. Failure to raise defects within the applicable window may affect the developer's obligation to repair them.
9.Cancellation and rescheduling
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please give us as much notice as possible. The following applies:
- More than 48 hours' notice: no charge. Any payment already made is refunded or credited against a rescheduled appointment.
- Less than 48 hours' notice: up to 50% of the inspection fee may be retained to cover diarised time and any non-refundable travel.
- Cancellation on the day, non-attendance or refusal of access on arrival: the full inspection fee remains payable.
We may reschedule at no charge to you where weather conditions, developer instructions, safety concerns or other circumstances outside our reasonable control make the visit unsafe or impractical.
10.Revisits
A revisit is intended to check whether previously reported items have been repaired. It is not a complete new inspection unless this is agreed separately.
A standard repair-check revisit is charged at 50% of the original inspection price.
Any new defects noticed during a revisit may be mentioned where practical, but the revisit remains limited to checking the repairs identified in the original report.
11.Using the report and copyright
The report is prepared for the named client and property and should not be relied upon by another person without written agreement.
The report is intended to help the client raise snagging items with the developer. Decisions about the method of repair, technical design or acceptance of work remain the responsibility of the developer and any relevant warranty provider or specialist.
The report, including its text, photographs and format, remains the intellectual property of Snagged Building Services Ltd. The named client is granted an unlimited licence to use the report for the purpose of raising snagging items with the developer, warranty provider or their representatives. The report should not be reproduced in any commercial publication or used for any other purpose without our written permission.
These terms do not affect the client's statutory rights.
12.Liability and insurance
Snagged Building Services Ltd holds professional indemnity insurance and public liability insurance appropriate to the services provided. Our maximum liability in respect of any single inspection is limited to the amount of cover available under our then-current professional indemnity policy.
We are not liable for:
- Defects that were hidden, concealed, intermittent or not reasonably visible at the time of the inspection.
- Defects that develop, worsen or become apparent after the inspection.
- Loss or damage caused by the client's or a third party's failure to raise the report with the developer within the applicable reporting window.
- Consequential, indirect or economic losses, including loss of profit, loss of use or loss of opportunity.
Nothing in these terms limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud, or for any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
13.Health and safety on site
The client agrees to disclose any known hazards at the property that could affect safe inspection, including live construction activity, incomplete stairs or flooring, exposed electrical or gas installations, restricted access, or the presence of pets on site.
Where a hazard makes safe inspection impossible or unreasonable, the inspector may limit or stop the visit and note this in the report. The client remains liable for the inspection fee where limits are the result of undisclosed hazards.
14.Data protection
Personal data provided in connection with your inspection (name, address, contact details, plot details, developer details) is processed only for the purposes of arranging and delivering the inspection, issuing the report and invoicing.
We do not share your data with third parties except where necessary to deliver the service (for example, contacting a developer sales office to arrange access) or where required by law. Data is retained for a reasonable period for tax, regulatory and warranty-support purposes, generally seven years in line with HMRC requirements.
You have the rights available to you under UK GDPR, including the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you. To exercise any right, contact info@snagged.co.uk.
15.Complaints
If you are unhappy with any part of our service, please contact us in writing at info@snagged.co.uk within a reasonable time.
We will acknowledge your complaint within 3 working days and provide a full written response within 20 working days.
As an RPSA member firm, unresolved complaints may be referred to the Residential Property Surveyors Association's complaints procedure. Details are available from the RPSA at rpsa.org.uk.
16.General
These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising in connection with the inspection or the report is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
We may update these terms from time to time. The version in effect at the date of your booking will apply to that inspection.
If any part of these terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining parts continue to apply.
Nothing in these terms creates a partnership, agency or employment relationship between us and the client.
Snagged Building Services Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales.
Email: info@snagged.co.uk · Phone: 03301 337990 · Web: snagged.co.uk
This document represents the current standard terms of Snagged Building Services Ltd, version July 2026. Copies of previous versions are available on request.