The six protections every new-build buyer must check before signing
With 53% of homebuyers saying they would prefer a new build, demand remains high, but so do the risks if buyers fail to ask the right questions. Buying a new build often means committing to a property that is not yet finished, which makes the small print just as important.
Without these protections, buyers risk losing their mortgage offers as build dates slip, being left with service charges that make a home unsellable, or facing five-figure repair bills for structural defects that the developer is no longer legally bound to fix.
In the worst-case scenarios, families are left paying a mortgage on a home they cannot move into, with no legal route to get their deposit back.
Dane Westwood, construction performance bond specialist at CG Bonds reveals the 6 questions you must ask before signing which can make all the difference.
1. What structural warranty is in place and how long does it last?
“Don’t just accept that a warranty exists, ask what it covers and for how long. Most are described as 10 years, usually with a two-year defects period and under the Building Safety Act they must now offer a minimum of 15 years. Seeing the policy in writing makes it clear who fixes serious issues and when.”
2. How is my deposit protected?
“With reservation fees typically ranging from £500 to £2,000 and often only refundable within a short cooling-off period, buyers should ask how their deposit is held and when it would be returned. Clear terms around refunds are a basic financial safeguard.”
3. Is there a long-stop completion date?
“A long-stop date sets a final deadline for the build. If that date is missed, buyers may have the right to withdraw and recover their money, which is especially important when mortgage offers usually last just three to six months.”
4. How is the development funded and phased?
“Ask how the project is being financed and delivered in stages. A developer that can clearly explain the build schedule and what will be finished before move-in shows the scheme is being managed with proper oversight.”
5. What is the process for defects and snagging?
“In any construction project, minor adjustments (known as ‘snagging’) are a standard part of the settling-in period. With 95% of new build homeowners reporting defects, snagging is common.
“Buyers should ask whether pre-completion inspections are permitted and how issues raised during the initial two-year defects period will be managed. A developer with a clear, documented process for rectifying these points demonstrates a commitment to long-term build quality and customer care.”
6. Who manages the development and how are charges controlled?
“With 36% of new build homeowners wishing they had researched the developer or management company more thoroughly, it is wise to ask who will oversee the site long term, how service charges are reviewed and what complaint routes are available.
“Focusing on these questions shifts the conversation from sales promises to documented protections, which is what gives buyers real confidence before committing.”
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