New flats come with a period during which the builder is responsible for putting defects right, and it is one of the most valuable things a buyer has. Most people use it for nothing, either because they do not know it exists or because they cannot tell a defect from ordinary wear.
What counts as a defect
A defect is something that was wrong at handover rather than something that has worn since: a window that will not lock, a door catching on its frame, a seal pinched during fitting, a pane scratched by another trade.
It also covers things that fail unreasonably early, which is where most disputes sit.
What is not a defect is anything the builder never supplied — mesh, grilles, balcony glazing — and anything you have changed. So the useful first step is dividing your list into those two, which we do when we survey a new flat.
Using the period rather than losing it
The common mistake is waiting until the end, reporting everything at once, and finding some items have been outstanding too long or the period has expired.
The better approach is to report each item as it appears, in writing, and keep the record.
Also worth knowing: paying an outside contractor to fix a defect can end the cover on that item. So it is worth checking what is covered before paying anybody, which is why we separate the lists rather than simply quoting everything.
What to check before the period runs out
There is a short list worth walking specifically: every window opens, closes and locks; every door closes without catching; no seal is pinched or standing proud; no pane is scratched; and the drainage slots in every sliding track are clear of construction dust.
The last one is not strictly a defect and it is the one that causes a leak in the first monsoon.
It takes half an hour and it is the single most useful thing a new owner can do with the flat before the builder's responsibility ends.
How the job works
- Tell us about the jobSend a few photos, rough sizes and what you need. Use WhatsApp or the form. For a repair, a short video of the door moving helps a lot.
- We call you back in about 2 minutesWe confirm what you need and a time to visit. Where we can, we give you a rough price on the call.
- We come and measureWe measure the opening and check the walls, floor and ceiling around it. Anything made to size is made to these measurements, so they must be right.
- You get a written priceIt lists each item, with GST as its own line. If anything about the job changes, we tell you before we go ahead.
- We fit itYou approve the price and pay the advance. Our own team fits the work, checks that every door and window opens and closes properly, and clears up. Most jobs are done in 3 to 4 days.
