What is the difference between a Structural Building Regulations Review and a snag list?
The following information is provided to explain the difference between a structural building regulations review and snag lists which purchasers of newly built properties are recommended to obtain.
Structural Building Regulations Review
- A structural building regulations review is performed by a trained and qualified professional.
- The engineer will be looking for defects that are not obvious to the untrained eye and would currently present no visual signs of cracks or movement, such as potential design defects in structural walls, roofs and floors.
- The engineer will be checking for items that do not comply with building regulations such as inadequate ventilation in timber framed walls, breaches in fire stops and fire doors, incorrectly installed drains etc. Â A builder is not obliged to advise of building defects known to them. Never presume that because a property is newly built that it will comply with all of the current building regulations, that it will be built correctly, or to a recommended standard.
- A structural building regulations review will report on issues that will adversely affect the value of the property.
- A structural building regulations review will cost more than a snag list because it is performed by a qualified professional building engineer.
- The engineer will have current PI insurance
- The engineer undertakes regular training, and will have up to date knowledge of current building regulations.
- Clients are supplied with a professional and valuable report, that their developer should take action on.
- The report will include additional advice, information and direction to help clients understand structural certificates/documentation for the property that may be provided by the developer/builder.
- Clients are able to discuss any issues reported on with a qualified professional.
- Clients can if they wish provide us with your snag list for inclusion as an addendum to our report.
Snag List
- A snag list is typically performed by an unqualified person.
- A snag list will provide you with a list of cosmetic issues like paint splashes, and scratches in paint.
- A snag list will comment on minor building defects such as misaligned plug sockets, mismatched timbers, chipped bricks etc.
- A snag list is usually cheaper than a structural building regulations review.
- PI insurance is generally only available to professionals with a recognised qualification, therefore snag lists often are not protected by PI insurance.
- You may be supplied with a list of minor building and cosmetic issues that will not adversely affect the value of the property.
- A snag list will not provide a report that can be relied upon for important structural issues.
- A typical snagger will concentrate their attention on identifying individual cosmetic issues. Their emphasis is not focused on the structure of the property. They may not even understand or recognise what is required under building regulation standards.
Property Health Check Ltd only supply Structural Building Regulations Reviews. Our aim is to provide a client with information about the structural soundness of the property, and to help them understand any reported deficiencies that could affect the value of the property, before completing the sale.
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Structural Building Regulations Review – FAQ’S