The NHQB recommend: (i) The developer should have the property inspected by an independent professional (ii) The developer must explain what defects (snags) are to the buyer (iii) The developer must establish a formal means for the buyer to report defects (iv) The developer should state a time to resolve defects (v) In the event of a dispute, the developer must allow the buyer to report the issue to the New Homes Ombudsman (NHO) for mediation or abide by an imposed solution. When buying, make sure you ask your developer if the house has been independently quality inspected and what their processes and solutions are in the event of issues and problems. Visit the NHQB site for the full recommendations and useful reports. Documents to Download (nhqb.org.uk)

Absolutely! Our extensive insurance policy encompasses professional indemnity and third-party damages. Although it's not anticipated that any professional firm would incur damage or overlook crucial details during a survey, we ensure your peace of mind by being fully insured for such instances. Moreover, our coverage includes pre-completion inspections of vacant plots.

Absolutely! Why would you buy the single most expensive purchase in life without certainty? After all you'll spend considerably more insuring the same property. Our surveys, starting at just £299, have required developers to address defects that could have cost up to £6,000 to fix, but it's important to note that developer quality can differ significantly from one site to another which necessitates the survey. Our hope is always to uncover no defects and that the survey cost is a minor investment for the assurance and hassle-free experience during what can be a very stressful period.

Absolutely not. Developers might set a date based on site activity or plot developments, yet the inspection right is a government-legislated safeguard for homebuyers. Should your developer deny an inspection, promptly reach out to the ombudsman.

As a purchaser, it's crucial to submit the report to the developer and request that the issues be rectified. Should the developer decline to resolve the defects, Northern Survey will intervene to discuss the survey results and, if needed, will continue to back you in case of a dispute. Nevertheless, an irreconcilable dispute is a rarity among esteemed developers, which underscores the importance of investigating the developer's reputation prior to finalizing your purchase.

If booking a PCI, your developer will need adequate notice. The maximum they can ask for is 14 days, but most need only 2-3 days to arrange a site access permit and second one of their team to assist our surveyor. You can arrange this directly with your developer, or if you prefer, we will coordinate with the developer on your behalf. If you have occupied the property, we ask that access is made available at the specified time. It is our aim to carry out the survey to the highest standards possible, and in a safe manner. Our surveyor will discuss the way he/she will carry out the survey with you and will conduct a risk assessment before starting. Our activities will involve the use of ladders, power tools and other equipment and it is in the interests of all parties that the surveyor is allowed to conduct the survey without distraction. We would kindly ask that pets are restricted to a confined area during the survey and that children are kept a safe distance from our activities - we're old enough to remember the chaos seen on episodes of Blue Peter! Both PCI and PCSS involve the powering down and restarting of services. Please make sure there are no critical systems running, particularly if you work from home. We strongly suggest you don't plan critical activity or video conference calls during the survey. Make sure any sensitive appliances are switched off and backed up, in particular desktop computers.

Developers enrolled in recognised frameworks must provide a two-year post-completion period to you to report any defects or snags. In practice, it's essential to snag ASAP to avoid disputes over wear and tear. Based on experience we find that the chances of resolving defects are greater when the developer's construction teams are on site, once the sales and construction teams leave the site, it is increasingly difficult to resolve matters easily and defects may become an NHBC issue. Always confirm that your developer participates in recognised frameworks and verify the warranty duration before completion - not all developers are.