A new-build home in Kent may be a gated apartment near Sevenoaks, a family house outside Maidstone, a new property around Sittingbourne or a home close to the coast at New Romney. The route to the plot, the person controlling access and the information used to identify the property can differ across those settings. Next Step Snagging provides independent new-build snagging surveys for Kent buyers and sends the completed report within 24 hours.
Pre-completion inspections can be arranged where the developer confirms access under the New Home Quality Code. A post-completion survey can take place once you have the keys, while a de-snag visit checks work against the original snagging report. Prices start from £150 for pre-completion, from £200 for post-completion and are £250 for de-snag inspections.
A Kent inspection planned around the development
Kent combines very different new-build settings. West Kent developments around Hildenborough and Paddock Wood can include apartments, houses, managed grounds and more than one current phase. Around Maidstone and Sittingbourne, a larger site may still use plot numbers, temporary directions and an active sales office. On the coast near New Romney, the development name and full postcode matter because a broad place name may cover several approaches.
That variety makes accurate booking information essential. A marketing name does not always match the final street address, and a postcode may direct a visitor to the completed part of a site rather than the sales entrance. Sending the plot or apartment number, developer contact and written access instructions helps keep the available inspection time focused on the property.
Ryan Leahy, Founder, Next Step Snagging, records the findings in a structured report, including the location of each item. The report provides a single dated document for the buyer to send to the developer or customer care team.
Current new-build developments across Kent
The following developments were checked against their developers’ own websites on 10 September 2026 and were marketing new homes at that time:
- Foal Hurst Green by Berkeley in Paddock Wood currently markets three, four and five-bedroom houses. The sales address is on Ramsay Drive and the development is arranged in current phases beside landscaped open space.
- Oakhill by Berkeley in Hildenborough is a gated parkland development with houses and one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The developer lists a Residents’ Club and separate current phases, so the building or house name is useful access information.
- Willow Brook by Bellway in Iwade, north of Sittingbourne, currently lists apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses. Buyers should provide the plot reference while the site continues to market homes.
- Parsonage Place by Bellway in Otham is around three miles from Maidstone and lists both apartments and houses. The published development address uses Maidstone, so the site name and postcode help distinguish it from other schemes around the town.
- Victoria Bay by Persimmon in New Romney is a coastal development marketing two, three and four-bedroom houses from its Victoria Road West address in Littlestone.
These developments are included to show the range of homes currently marketed in Kent. They do not imply that Next Step Snagging is connected with the developers or has inspected a home at any named development.
Inspection options for a Kent new build
Pre-completion inspection with approved access
A pre-completion inspection happens before legal completion, subject to the developer’s procedure and a confirmed appointment. For homes covered by the New Homes Quality Board’s New Home Quality Code, the Code sets requirements for registered developers during the buying, moving and settling-in process. Ask the developer whether it permits an inspection, which dates are available and where the inspector must report on arrival.
For a Kent house on a developing estate, the plot number may be more reliable than the future street address. Send both if they are available. For an apartment or gated scheme, add the building or phase name and the person responsible for entry. If the sales suite uses a separate postcode, include it without replacing the property’s own address.
Post-completion survey after key collection
A post-completion inspection can be arranged once you have the keys and can provide access to the property. This may suit a buyer whose developer does not offer a suitable pre-completion slot, or whose Kent completion date moved during the handover process. Booking promptly gives you a dated record early in the developer’s warranty period.
If you are deciding between the available stages, read when a snagging survey should be done. The What to Expect page explains the appointment and report process.
De-snag visit after remedial work
A de-snag inspection follows the original report after the developer says remedial work is complete. Supplying the first report allows the same items to be checked in order. The resulting record separates resolved items from work that remains incomplete or needs further attention.
Getting a Kent plot or apartment ready
Access planning should reflect the development rather than the county name alone. At a plot-based site in Otham or Iwade, ask whether completed roads appear correctly on navigation services and whether visitors should meet at the sales office. At a gated development in Hildenborough, confirm the named entrance and access contact. For Paddock Wood or New Romney, use the exact development address rather than directions to the town centre.
- Confirm the date, arrival time and length of the permitted appointment with the developer.
- Send the full address, postcode, development name and plot, house or apartment number.
- Provide the sales adviser, site manager, concierge or customer care contact responsible for entry.
- Explain any temporary road, gate, parking or key collection instructions.
- Check shortly before the visit that the appointment has not moved and the property can be accessed.
These details reduce the chance of arriving at the wrong gate or completed phase. They are also useful where a Kent development spans a wide area or uses one postcode for a sales suite and another for the property.
Kent snagging survey prices
| Service | Price | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-completion inspection | From £150 | Before legal completion with developer-approved access |
| Post-completion snagging survey | From £200 | After the keys are available and the whole home can be entered |
| De-snag inspection | £250 | After the developer has addressed the original report |
Starting prices vary by the service and property type. Use the current snagging survey price list to check the option for your Kent home.
Frequently asked questions about Kent snagging surveys
What details should I send for a Kent plot on a developing estate?
Send the development name, plot number, full postal address if issued, postcode and the developer’s arrival instructions. Include a site contact and say whether the inspector should report to a sales office or go directly to the home.
Can a Kent new-build home be inspected after I collect the keys?
Yes. A post-completion snagging survey can take place once you have the keys and can provide access to the property. Booking promptly creates a dated report early in the developer’s warranty process.
How should I plan access on a larger development near Maidstone or Sittingbourne?
Confirm the current route to the occupied phase, any temporary road names, the correct gate and the meeting point. A plot number and site contact are useful where the final street layout is not yet shown on navigation services.
When will I receive my Kent snagging report?
Next Step Snagging sends the completed report within 24 hours of the inspection.
What are the prices for a snagging inspection in Kent?
Pre-completion inspections start from £150, post-completion snagging surveys start from £200 and a de-snag inspection costs £250. The price list shows the current options by service and property type.
Book a new-build snagging survey in Kent
Select an available appointment online and provide the Kent development, exact property and access details. If your developer has issued a fixed inspection window, include it with the booking information.