Twelve defects we find in almost every handover

These are the defects that turn up most consistently across the properties we inspect at handover. None of them are unusual, and none of them should surprise a developer holding a snagging list. Each is measured, not judged.

Structural & finishes

1. Wall and ceiling flatness out of tolerance under a straightedge, usually where two trades meet.
2. Hairline cracking at door reveals and construction joints as the building settles.
3. Hollow-sounding or uneven tiling, most often on floor thresholds and skirting returns.

Doors, windows & joinery

1. Doors out of plumb or binding on their frames, particularly on built-in wardrobes.
2. Window and door seals incomplete, letting in dust or, in exposed units, water.
3. Kitchen and wardrobe carcasses out of level along a run, visible in inconsistent door gaps.

Wet areas & plumbing

1. Falls to floor drains too shallow, leaving standing water in showers and balconies.
2. Low water pressure or flow at outlets furthest from the riser.
3. Silicone and grout joints incomplete around baths, basins and upstands.

Electrical & lighting

1. Sockets and switches unwired or wired to the wrong circuit.
2. Light fittings misaligned with the ceiling layout or missing entirely at handover.
3. Distribution board unlabelled or mislabelled against the circuits it actually controls.

None of these are rare. What is rare is a buyer who is handed a list of them before they sign for the keys.

What to do when you find one

Photograph it, note where it is, and add it to a single list rather than raising it as a separate complaint. If you are inspecting yourself, work to the same standard the developer's own specification references, usually British tolerances such as NHBC standards or BS 5606, so the finding is a measurement, not an opinion. See our complete guide to snagging for how a full inspection is structured.