Buying a newly built home

New property checklist

If you are thinking of buying a newly built home, the National House-Building Council (NHBC) suggests you:

• make sure the property is protected by a good warranty provided by a reputable company such as the NHBC ten-year Buildmark warranty and insurance - some developers use other warranty providers and can give you full details of the cover in place
• if a new property is not covered by an NHBC or equal warranty, make sure that the final building control certificate is available
• check your builder is NHBC-registered by visiting the organisation's online register
• if your builder is not registered with NHBC, check that you will be offered cover from another reputable company and check that the builder has a good local or national reputation by asking to look around homes the builder has completed before and chat to previous customers if possible
• visit the site - if it's tidy and well managed, this will give another clue about the attitude of the builder and commitment to quality
• if you need a mortgage, ask your lender at an early stage
• employ a solicitor and seek professional advice if you are in doubt
• take time to understand the NHBC Buildmark cover - once you have exchanged contracts get the Buildmark documents from your solicitor and read them carefully
• before taking possession of your home make sure you inspect it carefully
• wait until the home is fully completed before you move in
• once you have moved in, thoroughly check your new home again - reporting any defect in writing to your builder - keep a copy of the letter
• if in dispute with your builder, write to the NHBC
• you should always consider getting a structural survey done, especially if your home is more than a couple of years old and outside the initial two-year period of the Buildmark cover
• National House-Building Council

Rates

When you buy your newly built property, you must tell Land & Property Services (LPS) immediately to avoid a backdated rate bill.

• Sign up for rates

More useful links

• Set up a Direct Debit online for rates
• Buying out your ground rent
• Capital Gains Tax relief when you sell your home 
• Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)