Inspect before you accept
An independent snagging or inspection report carries considerably more weight than a purchaser’s own list, and it is far easier to obtain before handover documentation has been signed than after.
Off Plan Resolve Insights · Defects
Off-plan property defects in Dubai: what buyers should review
Handover is when a purchaser finally sees what was built. What happens in the following weeks tends to determine how a defect dispute goes.
Separate cosmetic from material
A mark on a door frame and recurring water ingress are not the same issue and should not be advanced as though they were. Grouping everything into one long list can make a serious defect look like part of a complaint about paintwork.
Document in a way that survives
Keep a file that can be read later by someone who was not there.
- Dated photographs and video of each item
- The written list submitted, and every response received
- The specification and finishes schedule you were sold
- Independent inspection or snagging reports
- What you signed at handover, and subject to what
Recurrence is evidence
A defect that returns after a purported repair tells a different story from one reported once. Keep the record of each report and each attempted remedy, including dates.
Post-handover defects
Where defects appear shortly after handover, how they are dealt with depends on the contract, the nature of the defect and applicable law. Report in writing, keep the correspondence, and do not rely on a verbal assurance from site staff.
If you already purchased an off-plan property and are experiencing this issue, submit your SPA to Off Plan Resolve for a case assessment.