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New-build snags: the dirty dozen you need to know about | Nethouseprices.com

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New-build snags: the dirty dozen you need to know about | Nethouseprices.com

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So, the exciting moment arrives and your developer is ready to hand over the property: but only once you've carried out all the items on your snagging list. The snagging stage is vital, so use this list to help carry out a rigorous inspection. In Scotland, the "builder's missive" may restrict snagging rights, or time-limit them, so it's important to check this. If you suspect more serious problems may be afoot but you don't have a warranty, then definitely think about obtaining one.

When to start snagging

If you're particularly concerned about getting a good finish to increase the house valuation, it may be a good idea to visit on a sunny day, when it's much easier to see scratches, dents, chips or other problems. With property prices as high as they are, you're making a major investment so leave yourself enough time to do a detailed inspection.

What you need

* A small plastic step-up stool to help you to see high places
* A small radio (or similar) with a mains cable and plug to enable you to test each socket
* A spare light bulb for testing light fittings
* A torch if you're going to be checking the loft or dimly-lit cupboards
* A tape measure is useful for measuring gaps or cracks, or the depth of loft insulation

The dirty dozen snagging checklist

1. Have they finished?

Finishing the job means all rubbish should be cleared away, and surfaces swept and cleaned. Everything should be ready for testing, and advertising boards should have been removed. Look at nethouseprices to compare sold house prices in the neighbourhood and get an idea of what the house should be worth currently, and use the snagging list to ensure you're getting full value for your money.

2. Heating and hot water

It's a good idea to turn on the heating and hot water as soon as you get to the property to give it a chance to heat up. When you've done everything else, come back and check that every radiator is working and can be turned off individually. Look for leaks along the pipe and under the joints, and check that the radiator brackets are firmly fixed to the wall. Examine any runs of exposed pipework to make sure that pipes are fixed securely to the wall or floor.

Check that there is hot water in all the sinks, the bath and the shower, turning the shower water on separately if necessary. Run every tap and the shower, in both bathrooms and the kitchen, and check that the water pressure is adequate and the water coming through is clean. Flush all toilets. Run enough water to check that the drainage is flowing freely everywhere. Check in accessible spaces, such as under the kitchen sink, for leaks during this process.

3. Check the plaster and paintwork finish

Look carefully around power points, pipes and switches to ensure that there is a neat finish. If plasterboard has been used, none of the fixings or joints should be visible. Check that the wall colour is consistent, the finish is even and there are no splashes.

4. Floors: look and listen

Listen out for creaking in timber floors, and check for any timbers that are cracked or split. If laminate or vinyl has been laid, it should be flat and even and the floor beneath should not creak. Check that the borders next to the walls have been neatly finished. If the floor is tiled, you can knock on the tiles to make sure that they are properly glued in, as well as examining the grouting. In bathrooms, ensure sanitaryware is surrounded by a neat finish.

5. Walls: tiling and seals

Check tiling around any fittings such as light switches, shower units or taps. Check that the seals around the bath, shower tray and sinks are sound. Repeat this in the kitchen.

6. Power points and light fittings

Check that none of these are chipped or damaged. Use your light bulb to check that overhead light fittings are working.

7. Bathroom and kitchen appliances

These should all be clean and undamaged. Open and close drawers and cupboard doors, and also test any extractor fans in the kitchen or bathroom.

8. Doors and windows

Keys for all locks are a must, and you should try inserting the key, locking, unlocking and removing it to ensure they work properly. Ensure that doors and windows open and close properly, and that any self-closers are properly adjusted. Look carefully for any condensation or misting in double-glazed units, and be aware of cracks on traditional glass or fitted mirrors, especially in corners.

9. Check the loft

Make sure no little critters have bedded down for the winter, and that the insulation is of the depth and quality agreed. If boarding was included, check that it's secure and safe.

10. Check the exterior

Examine the paint job to ensure that proper coverage has been achieved. House valuation is often based on first impressions, so kerb appeal counts. Test gates and check that fencing is as agreed, with weather-proof paint or stain if that was included in the contract. Paths and drives should be even and finished at the edges.

11. Downpipes and guttering

If you want to test whether the gutters are working, it's worth visiting on a rainy afternoon and taking a look at the outside. Gutters, gullies and chambers should be free of debris or leaves, while the pipework needs to be fixed securely.

12. Roof and flashings

Try to get a view of the roof in order to check for any cracked or damaged tiles. Lead flashings should be flush to the structure.

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New-build snags: the dirty dozen you need to know about

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So, the exciting moment arrives and your developer is ready to hand over the property: but only once you've carried out all the items on your snagging list. The snagging stage is vital, so use this list to help carry out a rigorous inspection.

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Buying and renting: Your biggest financial decision - in 10 charts - BBC News

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Buying and renting: Your biggest financial decision - in 10 charts - BBC News

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Buying a home is the most significant financial decision in most people's lives. For tenants, paying the rent is the biggest monthly outgoing.

So it is little wonder that house prices are an obsession for some, and a source of frustration for others.

The financial crisis had huge implications for those wanting to buy or sell property.

Here is the story of what has happened to the UK housing market in the past 10 years.

1. House prices are rising... or are they?

The price of the average UK home has risen in the past 10 years, as you would expect. Prices of goods and services in general, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index measure of inflation, have increased faster.

So, in real terms, the average UK house price has fallen compared with a decade ago.

2. Price rises or falls depend on where you live

The average UK house price masks a massive regional divide. In London, the average property value has risen by nearly 70% in 10 years, whereas in Northern Ireland it has fallen by more than 40%.

3. This is not only a story of prices

The number of sales was 30% higher 10 years ago, so who is no longer buying?

Many people already with a home and a mortgage have chosen to stay put, rather than buy somewhere bigger. Recent tax changes have also cut the numbers of buy-to-let investors.

4. The housing ladder's rungs are further apart

Look at the difference in price when moving from a three-bedroom home to a four-bedroom one, and it is no surprise that many families have chosen not to move. Many may have spent their money on an extension instead.

A lack of four-bedroom family homes on the market has pushed up prices of this type of property. It means the cost of moving to a bigger house has stymied many people's dreams of moving up the housing ladder - perhaps to give the children their own room.

5. First-time buyers haven't had it easy

Government schemes, such as Help to Buy, mean first-time buyers are still in the game. Despite this assistance, lenders have been much more demanding of young borrowers.

Mortgage providers wanted a much bigger initial deposit when they were left reeling by the financial crisis. Those deposit requirements have eased since, but first-time buyers still need some hefty savings, or help from their parents, to secure a home loan.

6. Pay has done little to help them

Wages have risen slowly, if at all, for most people in the last 10 years.

This has made it even tougher for potential buyers in their 20s and 30s to save some of their income. The money has been used to pay the bills, not to fund soaring deposit demands.

7. There's been a shift from owning to renting

These financial pressures have meant people choosing to rent rather than buy, or to continue as tenants into their 30s and 40s when they might previously have bought a home by then.

This has led to some robust debate over the plight of renters in recent years, from lettings agent fees to the length of tenancies.

8. The South has the lion's share of property wealth

Collectively, London property has the highest value, followed by the South East of England.

If you believe that property is always a good investment, then just look at what has happened to the collective value of homes in the North of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in the past 10 years.

9. Borrowing has been cheap for homeowners

Ten years of low interest rates, and rock-bottom home loan rates, have meant that mortgage repayments account for less of a typical homeowner's income than at any time in the past 10 years.

The bad news is that it is unlikely to get any cheaper. Policymakers at the Bank of England have put up interest rates, so borrowing on any kind of loan is going to get more expensive.

10. Where can I afford to live?

Lucian Cook, director of residential research at estate agents Savills, predicts that deposits are likely to stay relatively high compared to incomes in the coming years. Owners will continue to take fewer steps up the housing ladder compared to the past, he adds.

This is a result of the stricter regulation following the financial crisis that, he believes, will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

The other major factor, looking ahead, is how rising interest rates will "be the next restraint on house price growth", he says, particularly in London. Savills predicts that an average mortgage rate will double to 4% in the next five years.

Huge national, regional, and even neighbourhood disparities mean it is well worth checking where you can afford to live in the UK. Our calculator will help you.

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Your biggest financial decision - in charts

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Buying a home is the most significant financial decision in most people's lives. For tenants, paying the rent is the biggest monthly outgoing. So it is little wonder that house prices are an obsession for some, and a source of frustration for others. The financial crisis had huge implications for those wanting to buy or sell property.

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Tags: tenancy deposit protection, tenancy deposits, deposit protection

This article has been written in response to a tenant's query: "Does my deposit cover having a pet in the property?"

A recent House of Commons briefing paper found that at the end of 2016 around 35% of households are renting from either private or social landlords. Alongside this statistic, according to the RSPCA, around 1 in 2 households in the UK now own a pet; this equals approximately 20 million animals including dogs, cats and small animals consequently 17.5% of households within the rental sector may well have a pet.

Animals in rental properties can lead to conflict between tenants and landlords. It is important to be aware of any guidelines or limitations concerning pets in the property and these should be clearly detailed in your tenancy agreement. It can be tempting to try and sneak a pet into your rental property; the classic Chihuahua in a handbag comes to mind, but if you do not discuss this prior to your tenancy with your landlord or agent you could be in breach of your tenancy agreement.

You should bear in mind that sometimes landlords may not allow pets in their properties due to rules in their leasehold, for example some property management companies do not allow animals in the communal areas of flats or apartments. In general, it is at your landlord's discretion whether to allow you to keep pets in the property. It is worth noting that special considerations may be made for service animals such as guide dogs.

If your landlord does allow pets, your tenancy deposit alone may not be enough to protect the landlord against any potential damages so you may be asked to pay an extra 'pet deposit'. This covers any damage that may be incurred from having a pet in the property such as extra cleaning or damage. This deposit should also be protected in the same way as your standard tenancy deposit.

Has your pet been naughty or nice?

We see a number of disputes that arise as a result of tenants having pets in their properties, even when they have their landlord's approval.

When it comes to leaving your rental property, before the check-out process has commenced, as with the end of any tenancy, you should ensure that the condition of the property has not deteriorated. Issues to look out for include animal hair stuck into carpets which can require extra cleaning beyond a normal end of tenancy clean. Scratches to hard wood floor from pet claws, chewed bannisters or door frames meaning the repairs are needed or potentially damage to the landlord's furniture if you have a furnished rental property.

Tenants should ensure they clean up thoroughly after their pets including check gardens for any animal waste. They may also be required to fumigate/carry out a flea treatment course at the property at the end of tenancy if pets have lived in the property. It is important to ensure you meet all the requirements of your tenancy agreement.

Landlords who allow pets generally take an extra deposit or extra funds and this is to cover their costs if the property is not returned to original standard due to pet damage.

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) is a government approved scheme for the protection of tenancy deposits; we offer both insured and custodial protection. We also provide fair adjudication for disputes that arise over the tenancy deposits that we protect.

TDS can only comment on the process for our scheme, other deposit protection schemes may have a different process/require different steps. Content is correct at the time of writing.

If you are a Landlord and would like to keep up to date with any changes that may affect you or your responsibilities, you can contact the RLA at: info@rla.org.uk and quote reference: dg715 to receive 25% off your first year's membership.

For agents who would like to stay up to date, you can contact Propertymark | ARLA at: join@propertymark.com. By being a member of Propertymark | ARLA you will be eligible for TDS Insured best headline rates.

Posted by Christel Jones on 22 December 2017

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#AskTDS: "Does my deposit cover having a pet in the property?"

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Tags: tenancy deposit protection, tenancy deposits, deposit protection This article has been written in response to a tenant's query: "Does my deposit cover having a pet in the property?" A recent House of Commons briefing paper found that at the end of 2016 around 35% of households are renting from either private or social landlords.