Buying a new home or property is an exciting experience, but what if hidden issues turn your dream investment into a costly burden? This is where snagging becomes essential. Snagging is a thorough inspection of your property before you move in, identifying defects like poorly fitted doors, uneven flooring, leaks, cracks, or faulty electrical connections—problems that may not be visible at first glance. The key reason to book a snagging inspection is simple: it saves you money. If issues are found before handover, the developer is responsible for fixing them or covering the repair costs, preventing you from paying out of pocket in the future. Without snagging, unnoticed defects could lead to expensive repairs down the line. A professional snagging inspection ensures your property is delivered in perfect condition, giving you peace of mind and protecting your investment.

When a client books a snagging service, the inspection team conducts a thorough inspection of the property to identify any construction defects or finishing issues. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how they proceed:

1.  Initial Assessment – Checking Utility Connections

Before starting the inspection, we make sure that all necessary utilities are hooked up and functioning properly, such as:

• Water Supply – Checking for proper water flow and pressure.
  • Air Conditioning (AC) Supply – Verifying AC units are operational.
  • Electricity Supply – Verifying that the electrical system is connected and safe.

Once these basic checks are complete, we proceed with the thorough inspection of the property.

2.  Roof Inspection (For Villas)

If the property is a villa, we begin with the roof for structural stability and correct installations. We inspect:

• Drainage System – Checking proper water flow and ensuring there are no blockages.
  • Insulation – Ensuring sufficient thermal and waterproof insulation.Piping & Shafts – Checking for leaks, corrosion, or blockages in piping and shafts.AC Outdoor Units – Examining the alignment, mounting, and overall condition of the units.Solar Panels (if installed) – Inspecting for proper installation and functionality.
  • Access Ladder – Checking safety, stability, and secure fixing.

3.  Interior Inspection – Room-by-Room

Bedrooms

• Doors & Frames – Testing door architrave, alignment, operation, hinges, and condition of frames.
  • Flooring – Inspecting tiles for evenness, cracks, chipped edges, and color variations.
  • Walls & Ceilings – Looking for uneven surfaces, cracks, leakages, or seepage.
    • Using thermal imaging to detect hidden leaks.
    • Using moisture meters to measure moisture levels inside the walls.

• Wardrobes & Cabinets – Inspecting the proper functioning of shutters, hinges, back panels, and alignment.
  • Windows & Balcony Doors – Inspecting aluminum window frames and doors for:
    • Smooth operation and alignment.
    • Proper sealing to prevent heat loss.

Bathrooms

• Doors & Frames – Checking alignment and proper functioning.
  • Sanitary Fixtures – Examining the washbasin, WC, bathtub, and shower area for defects.
  • Wall & Floor Tiling – Inspecting for cracks, seepage, or improper slope towards drainage.
  • Vanity Cabinets & Shower Partitions – Ensuring proper installation and smooth functioning.

·         Water Heater Inspection –

• Opening the access panel to inspect insulation and connections.
  • Inspecting the dripping pipe and verifying proper and accurate cabling.
  • Checking if coils are too condensed and whether the slab has cracks or improper packing.

Corridors & Other Bedrooms

• Repeating the same inspection as in the first bedroom for all other rooms and corridors.

Kitchen Inspection

• Cabinets & Storage Units – Inspecting hinges, alignment, and operation.
  • Sink & Water Supply – Ensuring no leaks and proper water flow.
  • Surface Finishes – Inspecting for scratches, damages, or misaligned countertops.

4.  Electrical & Mechanical Systems Inspection

·         DB (Distribution Board) Panel –

• Inspecting if the earthing is properly connected.
  • Ensuring MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers) are installed and connected correctly.
  • Verifying load schedules and ensuring blank spaces are covered if any MCBs are missing.

·         Pumps & Swimming Pool Systems –

• Inspecting booster pumps and transfer pumps for proper operation.
  • Inspecting swimming pool equipment and water circulation systems.

5.  Exterior Inspection

• Walls & Paintwork – Checking for cracks, uneven surfaces, and poor paint finishing.
  • Manholes & Drainage – Ensuring they are properly sealed and functional.
  • Landscaping & Irrigation – Verifying the presence and functionality of the irrigation system.

• Outdoor Electrical Supply & Switches – Checking if electricity is available throughout the exterior and if switches function properly.

After inspection, our experts draw up a snagging report with proper-quality photographs and detailed descriptions of each of the faults they come across. Be it large structural faults or minuscule cosmetic flaws, the report gives a summary and structured account of every defect. It is a proper report that may be handed over to the builder by the house owner for all repairs required, in addition to making them understand the state of their house.

The report further offers suggestions on how each problem must be rectified so that the solutions are of the needed quality.  After repairs are finished, we could recommend a follow-up inspection if there are found to be critical defects to make sure that everything has been correctly repaired. The homebuyers will be able to have peace of mind that the new home they are purchasing is safe, in good condition, and free of any hidden flaws through this intense process. You can be confident that your property of dreams is really ready to welcome you and your family by getting a professional snagging survey.
Get in touch to book your snagging inspection today!

On 9 August 2016, HMRC released a consultation document to flag some potential tax impacts that a forthcoming change in lease accounting may have on the funding of plant and machinery. From 2019, lessees using IFRS (including FRS 101), as opposed to FRS 102 (UK GAAP), will no longer have to distinguish between finance and operating leases. All leases (except some small value leases or very short leases) will be capitalized on the lessee’s balance sheet at the NPV of the future payments from the day the lease starts. This accounting change will not affect lessors. At the moment, the tax treatment typically depends on whether a lease is a ‘long funding lease’ or not. If it is, then it is the lessee who gets capital allowances (CAs). However, much anti-avoidance legislation is focused on the concept of finance leases and the IFRS change will interfere with that. In its consultation, HMRC has floated four options for addressing the issue. The first is broadly the status quo, with some tinkering. The others contain the more radical suggestion to move towards an accounts-based regime for taxing leases, using a system of debits and credits somewhat akin to the loan relationship regime and which would similarly eliminate the capital/revenue divide. ith such a proposal, including:

HMRC has identified several issues which should be addressed in conjunction with such a proposal, including:

1. Can HMRC trust companies to use ‘sensible’ depreciation policies or will there need to be legislation for it?

2. In order to avoid distorting the ‘lease or buy’ decision, the government may be willing to offer an enhanced deduction to lessees that would otherwise have qualified for the AIA.

3. Could HMRC combine an accounts-based regime with giving the lessee an option to claim CAs on the ‘right of use’ asset?

Inevitably, there is a long way to go on these issues. But the eventual outcome is potentially quite far-reaching for UK corporates – for example if HMRC can become comfortable on the issue of ‘sensible’ depreciation policies without a lot of new anti-avoidance legislation.

If you have any questions on the tax implications of lease accounting please contact David Porter.