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Expert guides, market updates, and everything you need to know about buying a new-build home in the UK

Stamp Duty Relief for First-Time Buyers on New Builds

Stamp Duty Relief for First-Time Buyers on New Builds

First-time buyers of new build homes can benefit from significant stamp duty relief, potentially saving thousands of pounds on their purchase. This guide explains the current SDLT thresholds, how relief applies to new builds specifically, and what changes to expect in 2026.

Mortgage Guarantee Scheme for New Build Buyers

Mortgage Guarantee Scheme for New Build Buyers

The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme enables lenders to offer 95% loan-to-value mortgages with a government-backed guarantee, helping buyers with smaller deposits access new build homes. Discover how the scheme works, which lenders participate, and what it means for new build purchasers in 2026.

Right to Buy and New Build Homes: What to Know

Right to Buy and New Build Homes: What to Know

Right to Buy allows council tenants to purchase their home at a significant discount, but how does it relate to new build properties? This guide explores the scheme's rules, eligibility, regional discounts, and alternative routes into new build homeownership for social housing tenants in 2026.

Armed Forces Help to Buy Scheme for New Build Homes

Armed Forces Help to Buy Scheme for New Build Homes

The Armed Forces Help to Buy scheme offers serving military personnel an interest-free loan of up to 50% of their salary to help purchase a new build home. Learn how the scheme works, who qualifies, and how to combine it with other government programmes in 2026.

Post-Completion Snagging: Your Rights and Timelines

Post-Completion Snagging: Your Rights and Timelines

Your rights to have defects fixed in your new build home are protected by warranties, consumer codes, and law. This guide explains the NHBC 2-year builder liability period, 8-year structural warranty, key inspection timelines, and what happens when your warranty expires.

How the Developer Snagging Rectification Process Works

How the Developer Snagging Rectification Process Works

Understanding how the developer snagging rectification process works gives you the knowledge to push for timely repairs. This guide covers reporting procedures, response timescales, escalation routes, and what to do if your developer refuses to fix defects.

Common External Works Snagging on New Build Developments

Common External Works Snagging on New Build Developments

External works defects on new build developments affect every homeowner on the estate. From unfinished pavements and broken kerbs to drainage failures and adoption delays, this guide covers the communal snagging issues you should not ignore.

How to Use a Snagging App to Track Defects

How to Use a Snagging App to Track Defects

Snagging apps transform the way you document and track defects in your new build home. This guide reviews the best UK snagging apps, explains what features matter most, and shows you how to create professional reports that get results from your developer.

New Build Flooring Issues: Common Snagging Problems

New Build Flooring Issues: Common Snagging Problems

Flooring defects are among the most reported snagging issues in new build homes. From squeaky floorboards and uneven surfaces to lifting laminate and cracked tiles, this guide covers every common flooring problem and how to get it fixed.

Second Year Snagging: What to Check Before Your Warranty Expires

Second Year Snagging: What to Check Before Your Warranty Expires

Essential guide to second-year snagging before your NHBC warranty defect period expires, covering settlement issues, seasonal checks, submission deadlines and what year-2 defects look like.

How to Prioritise Snagging: Urgent vs Cosmetic Issues

How to Prioritise Snagging: Urgent vs Cosmetic Issues

A practical four-tier prioritisation framework for new build snagging issues, from safety-critical structural defects to minor cosmetic items, with developer obligation timelines.

LABC vs NHBC Inspections: Understanding Build Quality Oversight

LABC vs NHBC Inspections: Understanding Build Quality Oversight

A detailed comparison of NHBC and LABC building control inspections, warranty cover differences, and how to check which bodies oversee your new build home in the UK.

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