QUESTION: New buildings: how to accept an apartment and record defects?
Accepting an apartment from a developer is a procedure during which the equity holder inspects the premises transferred to them and records all identified construction flaws and uncompleted work. When it comes to new buildings, avoid extremes: do not panic over every minor scratch, but do not sign the acceptance certificate blindly under pressure from managers either; leave a reasonable margin for maneuver and record the progress of defect elimination using small control points and official papers.
The first step in preparing for apartment acceptance is studying the legal framework and your shared construction agreement. By law, the developer is obliged to transfer an object whose quality complies with the terms of the contract, project documentation, and technical regulations. You have every legal right to refuse to sign the acceptance certificate until all significant defects that interfere with normal living or prevent finishing are eliminated by the construction company at its own expense.
The second important action will be gathering the necessary tools for an independent or professional inspection. You will need a flashlight to inspect dark corners, a building level for checking the verticality of walls and floor screeds, a lighter or a sheet of paper for checking draft in ventilation shafts, and a charger to test the operability of all electrical outlets in the apartment.
The third stage is a detailed inspection of all apartment elements in strict order from the front door to the window units. Check the geometry of the premises, the quality of double-glazed window installation for blowing and glass scratches, the absence of cracks in concrete floor slabs, the working order of the heating system, radiators, water supply, and sewage pipes. Every detected discrepancy must be photographed and described in detail in a special defect report.
The fourth step is formally presenting claims to the developer and drawing up a defect sheet in duplicate. You keep one copy with the delivery mark and the developer's representative signature, and hand the second one over to the construction company. By law, the developer has a certain period to voluntarily eliminate the specified shortcomings, after which a re-acceptance procedure is scheduled.
To successfully record defects and protect your interests, use this step-by-step guide.