PROFESSIONAL AFTER CARE FOR NEW HOMEOWNERS
How to use the checklist
Use our helpful guide to what is, and what is not, a legitimate build defect.
You can save time by checking to see if the problem you have is the developer's responsibility - or your own!
The checklist is A-Z of the most typical issues that can arise - take a look to see if you can identify your issue before you take the trouble to report it.
Checklist key
LEGITIMATE DEFECT
This IS A LEGITIMATE DEFECT and is covered by your developer.
NOT A LEGITIMATE DEFECT
This IS NOT A LEGITIMATE DEFECT and is not covered by your developer.
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MAINTENANCE
This is homeowner MAINTENANCE and is your responsibility.
CHECK
Check with your developer.
Warranty Checklist
ALARM INSTALLATIONS
FAILURE
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
ALARM INSTALLATIONS
SERVICE
Servicing is the homeowner’s responsibility. Failure to carry out annual maintenance could invalidate your warranty.
APPLIANCES (ELECTRICAL)
FAILURE
Call the manufacturer and follow instructions in your appliance warranty cover.
APPLIANCES (ELECTRICAL)
DAMAGE
All damage is the homeowner’s responsibility.
BLOCKAGES
WASTE AND DRAINS
Contact your developer/after care agent. Blockages caused by homeowner are NOT covered and may incur a charge.
CENTRAL HEATING BOILER
SERVICE
Servicing is the homeowner’s responsibility. Failure to maintain annual service checks can reduce the life of the system and invalidate any warranty (refer to the service label on the boiler).
CENTRAL HEATING
LEAKING PIPES AND RADIATORS
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
CENTRAL HEATING
NOISY
Contact developer/after care agents if this occurs in the first 12 months.
CHIPS AND SCRATCHES
GLASS, SANITARY WARE, CABINETS, WORKTOPS AND FLOORS
Claims for damage to items in the home must be reported to the developer at the point of handover.
COLOUR VARIATIONS
WOOD, MARBLE ETC.
Colour and tone variations in natural materials are normal and to be expected.
CRACKS TO BRICKS AND MORTAR
LESS THAN 5MM
Minor cracking due to shrinkage is normal and can be expected
CRACKS TO BRICKS AND MORTAR
EXCEEDING 5MM
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
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CONDENSATE
Condensation is normal and due to the drying out process. It can be eased by adequate ventilation e.g. trickle vents are opened.
CRACKS TO CONCRETE
LESS THAN 5MM
Minor cracking due to shrinkage is normal and can be expected.
CRACKS TO CONCRETE
EXCEEDING 5MM
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
CRACKS TO DRY LINING, CEILING AND INTERNAL PAINTWORK
2MM OR LESS (4MM OR LESS FOR STAIR STRINGS)
Some minor cracking due to shrinkage is quite normal and can be expected. Maintenance and touch-ups are the homeowner’s responsibility.
CRACKS TO DRY LINING, CEILING AND INTERNAL PAINTWORK
EXCEEDING 2MM (GREATER THAN 4MM FOR STAIR STRINGS)
Contact developer or their after care team/agents, but not before the first 12 months.
DOORS
LOCK, LATCH ADJUSTMENT
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
DOORS
WARPING AND EASEMENT
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
DOORS
CATCHING ON THE CARPET
Contact developer or their after care team/agent unless you have had the carpet fitted yourselves, in which case this is homeowner maintenance.
ELECTRICAL
TRANSFORMERS, SWITCHES, CIRCUITS, SOCKETS
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
ELECTRICAL
SUPPLY FAILURE
Contact the supplier directly.
ELECTRICAL
DAMAGED FITTINGS AND BLOWN BULBS
Homeowner maintenance.
EXTRACTOR FANS
FAILURE
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
FENCING
LOOSE PANELS AND POSTS
This is a homeowner maintenance issue. Problems arising due to extreme weather conditions e.g. storms and high winds are not covered.
FLASHINGS
LEAKING OR LOOSE
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
FLASHINGS
DISCOLOURED
External components will discolour due to weathering.
FLOOR FINISHES
FAILURE
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent. Damage after occupation is not covered.
FLOOR STRUCTURES
NOISE
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent in the first 6 months. Thereafter minor creaks are normal and can be expected.
GARAGE DOORS
LOCKS, CABLES AND OPENING ACTION
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
GAS
SUSPECTED LEAK
If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak you MUST shut of the gas supply, do NOT operate anything electrical, leave the property and call the supplier’s emergency number (0800 111 999) then contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
GROUTING
CRACKING
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent in the first 6 months, thereafter minor cracking due to shrinkage is homeowner maintenance.
GUTTERS AND DOWNPIPES
LEAKING
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent. Problems arising due to debris in the gutters (dead leaves etc.) are the homeowner’s responsibility – or Managing Agent where one is appointed.
IMMERSION HEATER
FAILURE
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
KITCHEN CABINETS
DOOR ALIGNEMENT
This is a snag if spotted at handover and will be the developer’s responsibility. Thereafter this is homeowner maintenance.
KITCHEN CABINETS AND WORKTOPS
DELAMINATION
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent. If de-lamination is due to water spillage caused by the homeowner you may not be covered.
LANDSCAPING
LAWN NOT DRAINING
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
METERS AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES
ALL PROBLEMS
As homeowner you should contact your service provider directly.
NAIL/SCREW POPS EXCESSIVE
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent but not in the first 12 months.
PATHS AND PAVING SLABS
MOVEMENT
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent in the first 12 months. Small movement may occur over time due to expansion and contraction of the sub-soil as weather conditions apply.
ROOFS
ALL PROBLEMS
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent. Damage due to extreme weather conditions (e.g. loose or slipped tiles) is not covered.
SANITARY WARE
CHIPS, CRACKS AND STAINS
All claims for damage to sanitary ware must be made to the developer at the point of handover or in accordance with their stated handover process.
SEALANT AND MASTIC
ALL PROBLEMS
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent in the first 6 months. Thereafter this will be homeowner maintenance.
SETTLEMENT IN GARDEN
Some settlement of new top soil is normal and to be expected.
SHOWER DOORS
LEAKING
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
SOFT FURNISHINGS
Sold as seen.
STRUCTURAL DEFECTS
ALL
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
SUN ROOM
LEAKING
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
TELEPHONE
LINE CONNECTION
Line connection is the homeowner’s responsibility.
TELEPHONE
SOCKETS
The homeowner may be responsible for slave socket connection (see your developer’s policy).
TELEVISION
SERVICE
It is the homeowner’s responsibility to make arrangements with a service provider.
TELEVISION
SOCKETS AND DISH
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent. In the case of apartment dwellings your property is usually wired for service to a communal receiving dish.
TELEVISION
AERIAL - LOSS OF RECEPTION
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent. This will not be considered a defect if the issue is the homeowner’s equipment.
WATER
LEAKING PIPES AND TAPS
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
WINDOWS
FRAMES AND FURNITURE
Contact your developer or their after care team/agent.
WINDOWS
SCRATCHED GLASS
This must be pointed out to your developer at the snag inspection stages as scratches reported later on may not be accepted as legitimate defects.
WOOD
Minor separations and or warping are normal and to be expected.