Snagging Survey EC4Y

For a City of London new-build flat, expect to pay from £300 for a one-bedroom flat to around £450-500 for a three-bedroom unit. London-based inspectors apply a location surcharge to cover travel time in the EC postcode area. The fee is a small proportion of a transaction typically above £700,000, and a single round of remediation negotiated before completion will cover the cost many times over.

Under the Consumer Code for New Homes - which most major developers are registered under - buyers have the right to commission an independent inspection before legal completion. Your developer cannot unreasonably refuse access. We handle the appointment request directly with the developer's site team, so you do not need to negotiate this yourself. If a developer refuses access, we advise you on your options under the Consumer Code.

For a one or two-bedroom flat in an EC4 development, allow 2-3 hours on site. Our inspector works systematically through every room, records defects by photograph, and tests operating elements including windows, doors, heating controls, and electrical fittings. For three-bedroom or duplex units, allow 3-4 hours. The written report is delivered within 48 hours of the site visit.

We survey all residential property types found in EC4Y: new-build apartment towers (concrete frame with curtain-wall glazing), conversions of former commercial and office buildings (brick and stone construction), and mixed-use developments with residential upper floors. Our inspectors are trained on the construction methods used in premium London new-build schemes, including prefabricated bathroom pods, MVHR ventilation systems, and high-specification joinery packages.

The most frequent findings in EC4 and EC1 new builds include: failed double-glazing seals and misaligned sliding doors in curtain-wall glazing systems; MVHR ventilation units commissioned incorrectly; fire-stopping gaps around pipe and cable penetrations through floor slabs; underfloor heating imbalance; and finishing defects in high-specification kitchens and bathrooms. Post-Grenfell, fire door integrity and fire-stopping compliance are now standard items on our inspection checklist for all City of London developments.

No - they serve different purposes. A building survey (RICS Level 2 or Level 3) is designed for older, second-hand properties and assesses condition, defects, and maintenance liabilities. A snagging survey is specifically for new-build properties and focuses on workmanship defects and specification compliance. For a new-build flat in EC4Y, a snagging survey is the appropriate product. If you are buying a converted heritage building and want a structural assessment, a RICS Level 3 Building Survey would be the right choice.

Yes - fire safety is an explicit part of our City of London inspection checklist. Our inspectors check visible fire-stopping installations around pipe and cable penetrations, fire door leaf and frame condition, intumescent strip integrity, and door gap tolerances. We do not carry out intrusive investigations behind walls or floors, but we report every visible fire safety concern and categorise it as a priority defect. For high-rise blocks, we note the EWS1 status if documentation is available at inspection.

Yes - and arguably more so. High-profile developments carry high price tags, which makes the developer's quality control under commercial pressure all the more relevant. One Blackfriars (274 apartments, St George/Berkeley Group) and similar City-fringe towers use complex MEP systems, high-specification glazing facades, and large service charges built on the assumption that everything works as designed. Our inspectors have experience with large-scale luxury developments and know what to look for beyond the cosmetic finishes.