Do I need to get a survey on a new build house?

[OnePotato]

Just that really? The mortgage company will do their valuation one but should I also pay for an actual survey? Would it just asses the actual bricks and mortar house or look at things like risk of flooding, garden drainage etc?

I have bought a new build before and about to do it again and there is no need to get anymore than the mortgage valuation one as you are protected for a lot of things with a new build anyway.

I would either get a full structural survey or a professional snagging company in before exchange.

Twice we’ve tried to buy a new build - once they decided they wouldn’t part exchange, second time the foundations were not adequate and needed to be re-laid. (Bovis - I would absolutely not touch one of their houses with someone else’s bargepole after some of the issues I’ve seen.)

You will have a two year builder warranty and a ten year NHBC warranty, however getting them back to rectify anything can be arduous, and the NHBC do very little to help with any problems from what I can tell.

I definitely would get a survey or a professional snagging
Have seen lots of nightmare new builds
And the mortgage valuation gives you no comeback

Flood risk should be covered in the environmental searches done during conveyancing.

NHBC (or similar) guarantee should cover you for any major defects (friend is currently getting issues rectified on a 5yr old house via NHBC), but a snagging survey would cover lots of more minor things that should then be rectified by the builder.

We are in the process of buying a new build but small local builder - not a big development.

We have just had a valuation survey done for the mortgage (waiting for report to come through) but can't have a full survey as house nowhere near finished (roof not on yet) and won't be at exchange.

We will have professional snagging done at completion - no point in a structural survey as that is what the LABC (same as NHBC) guarantee is for. Our searches and title deeds have thrown up a few queries too which we are waiting for solicitor response on.

We persuade elderly relatives, with great difficulty, that this would be a good idea.
The survey spotted 18 issues to take back to the developers for rectification.

No way I'd buy a new build without a survey. Some are of shocking quality and the hassle of going through the warranty is awful. I

@sausagedogsmakechipolatas

A colleague bought a new build bovis. 2 years on it still needs stuff doing they never did properly. Major fundamental built badly stuff not just 'snagging'

Based on his experience i would never consider them!

Hmmm mixed views.

Thankfully it’s not Bovis!

At what point in the process is a survey done on a new build?

I'd take a look at this site which should clarify what is covered by warranty for new builds: hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-buying/new-home-warranties-cover/

Really I think the decision comes down to whether or not you want the property if there are issues. With a survey you can back out before buying but with a warranty you commit to buy and issues would be resolved under the warranty and may involve a struggle.

Thankfully it’s not Bovis!

Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey etc all have similar reputations (although my new build Persimmon home two years ago was actually very well built - there were no defects that needed to be fixed).