Snagging and Handover: What to Check Before You Accept a New Property

When an off-plan property is completed, the developer invites you to inspect it and take the keys. Snagging means listing every defect so the developer puts it right before, or shortly after, you accept.

Before handover

• Pay the final instalment and any handover fees the SPA lists.
• Register for electricity and water (DEWA) and district cooling where it applies.
• Check the completion notice and the final measured area against the SPA.

Snagging checklist

Walls, floors and ceilings

• Cracks, uneven paint, stains or damp patches
• Chipped, hollow-sounding or uneven tiles; damaged skirting

Doors and windows

• Every door and window opens, closes and locks smoothly
• Seals intact; no scratches on glass or frames; balcony doors slide freely

Kitchen and bathrooms

• Run every tap; check water pressure, drainage and for leaks under sinks
• Flush toilets; check silicone and grout; test extractor fans
• Open every cabinet and drawer; check worktops and appliances

Electrical and air-conditioning

• Test every socket, switch and light
• Run the air-conditioning in every room; check thermostats and for dripping
• Check the distribution board is labelled

Outside and common items

• Balcony drainage and railings
• Your parking space and access cards
• For villas: roof, external walls, garden levels and boundary walls

Do it properly

Photograph each defect, mark it on a floor plan and submit the list in writing. Many buyers hire a professional snagging company, which costs relatively little and usually finds far more than an owner does.

On handover day

Bring your passport or Emirates ID, the signed SPA and proof of the final payment. Read the meters and note the readings, collect every key, access card and remote, and ask for the appliance warranties, the as-built drawings and the building rules. If there are open snags, agree in writing the date by which each will be fixed before you sign the handover form — signing normally confirms that you accept the property in its current condition apart from the items listed.

Once you have the keys you become responsible for service charges and utilities, so arrange home insurance and, if the property is an investment, start marketing it to tenants straight away.

Your warranty

Dubai law gives buyers a defects liability period — one year from handover for installations such as plumbing and electrical fittings, and ten years for structural defects. Report problems in writing while the period is running.

Looking for a new home? See off-plan projects close to handover, and read payment plans explained.

Fees and rules change. Confirm current figures with the Dubai Land Department (DLD), your bank or your advisor before you commit — this guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.