Snagging Survey SE18 (Woolwich & Plumstead)

Our comprehensive snagging inspections cover over 150 individual defect points across your new build property. Our inspectors work through a systematic checklist that examines both the interior and exterior of your home, ensuring nothing is missed. The inspection includes a detailed assessment of all walls, ceilings, and floors for cracks, uneven surfaces, and poor finishing. We check every window and door for proper operation, sealing, and hardware function. Our team inspects all plumbing installations, testing taps, showers, and drainage systems for leaks and proper flow rates.

Electrical systems receive thorough attention, with our surveyors verifying that all sockets, switches, and lighting fixtures are properly installed and functional. We examine the central heating system, boiler controls, and hot water provision. In the kitchen and bathrooms, we check all appliances, worktops, tiling, and sealant conditions. External areas are equally important, with our inspectors assessing roof tiles, brickwork pointing, gutters, downpipes, and external door thresholds. Our experience across Royal Arsenal Riverside, Trinity Park, and other local developments means we know exactly what to look for in properties built by Berkeley Homes, Lovell Homes, and L&Q.

We pay particular attention to issues that commonly affect new builds in the Woolwich and Plumstead area. This includes checking that window seals are properly bedded (a frequent problem in larger developments), verifying that drainage falls direct water away from buildings rather than toward them, and ensuring that fire separation between flats meets current building regulations. Our inspectors also examine balcony constructions, which are prevalent in SE18's many apartment developments, checking balustrade heights, membrane conditions, and door thresholds to flats.

• Wall and ceiling finishes
• Window and door operation
• Plumbing and drainage
• Electrical installations
• Kitchen and bathroom fixtures
• External brickwork and rendering
• Roof and gutter condition
• Damp and condensation assessment
• Balcony and terrace inspections
• Fire safety compliance checks

The volume of new build construction across SE18 means that hundreds of buyers are completing on properties each year without understanding the full condition of their investment. While developers like Berkeley Homes, Lovell Homes, and L&Q maintain quality control processes, the nature of large-scale housing developments means that defects inevitably occur. Our inspectors frequently identify issues that slip through completion checks, from incomplete sealant around windows to drainage falls that direct water toward buildings rather than away from them.

The flood risk profile of SE18 deserves particular attention for new build buyers. Woolwich sits within the Thames flood plain, and climate projections suggest significant portions of the area could face increased flooding risk by 2030. Our inspectors pay special attention to damp proof courses, basement waterproofing, and ground floor construction details when surveying properties along the river. We verify that all damp proofing is correctly installed and that any basement or lower-ground floor constructions have adequate waterproofing. This local knowledge is particularly valuable for apartments on lower floors at Royal Arsenal Riverside and other riverside developments.

Property prices in SE18 have shown some fluctuation, with overall prices 5% down on the previous year and 3% below the 2022 peak. This makes it even more critical to ensure you're not overpaying for a property with significant hidden defects. A snagging survey typically costs between £450 and £700 for a standard apartment or house in the SE18 area - a modest investment compared to the potential cost of remedying serious defects discovered after you've moved in. The average property price exceeding £430,000 means that even a single significant defect, such as a failing damp proof course or structural crack, could cost tens of thousands of pounds to rectify.

Based on our extensive experience inspecting properties across Woolwich and Plumstead, we've identified several defect patterns that appear frequently in SE18 new builds. Window and door issues rank among the most common, with poorly sealed frames, draughts around door edges, and windows that don't close properly appearing regularly in our reports. These issues are particularly prevalent in larger developments where speed of construction can lead to corners being cut on finishing work.

Damp and condensation problems represent another significant category of defects we find in SE18 properties. While some damp issues relate to incomplete drying-out of new construction, we frequently identify inadequate ventilation in bathrooms and kitchens, missing or poorly installed damp proof courses, and sealant failures around windows that allow water ingress. Given SE18's proximity to the Thames and the resulting humidity levels in the area, these defects can quickly escalate into serious mould and structural issues if not addressed.

Plumbing and drainage defects are also commonly identified in our SE18 inspections. These range from minor issues like slow-draining sinks to more serious problems such as incorrect pipe falls, inadequate water pressure in apartments on higher floors, and poorly connected waste pipes. In developments with multiple apartments, we've occasionally identified cross-flow issues where drainage from one property affects another. Our thorough testing of all water outlets helps identify these problems before they cause damage to your property or interfere with your daily life.