What is a new-build handover and why does it matter?

A professional new-build handover is a formal process in which the buyer takes possession of an apartment or house from the developer. It's your last chance to raise defects, and the developer is legally obliged to fix every defect identified at handover at their own cost. Without an expert check, you risk finding defects only after you move in, and then having to deal with them yourself.

When should I book the handover inspection?

Ideally 5 to 7 days before the planned handover date. We need time to assign an inspector from your region and review the available documentation (floor plans, fit-out standards). For urgent dates, get in touch anyway. We'll do our best to accommodate last-minute requests.

What if the developer refuses to sign the report?

The developer has no right to refuse to have defects documented at handover. If they refuse to sign the report, the inspector records that in the report and advises you on the next legal steps. You have the legal right not to accept the apartment until the defects are fixed.

How many defects does an inspector usually find?

On average we find 15 defects in a single new-build handover. The most common are uneven floors and walls, windows that don't seal properly, sockets that don't work, damaged tiling, and discrepancies in the apartment's floor area. Even seemingly minor defects can mean costly repairs down the line.

Does the handover apply to houses too?

Yes, we handle handovers both for developer-built apartment units and for newly built houses. For houses the inspection is more extensive, covering the roof, facade, foundations, and groundworks too. The price depends on the size of the house.

Can I claim defects even after the handover?

Yes, the statutory warranty period on a new build is 5 years. For any defects found after the handover, though, you'll have to file the warranty claim yourself and prove they existed at the time of handover. That's why it's important to have as detailed a handover report as possible: it serves as evidence of the property's condition at the moment you take possession.

New-build handover

Taking handover of a new apartment or house from the developer? Don't take on their mistakes too.

An inspection at the new-build handover uncovers defects and snags that the developer then has to remedy or offset with a price reduction.

Calculate the price 730 193 333

300+
handovers every year: 27
defects per handover on average: 4.8 / 5
Google rating

A Nemoinspekt inspector goes through a new-build handover with a client

Certified property inspectors

Our inspectors are experienced professionals, engineers and architects with many years of experience.
Independent of the developer

We work only for you. No commissions, no ties to developers.
Report signed on the spot

The inspection gives you a list of defects to fix, written up on the spot.
100% Satisfaction guarantee

We work hard to make sure every client leaves happy. Client reviews rate us 4.8 out of 5.

Price and enquiry

Calculate the price of your new-build handover inspection

Choose the type and floor area of the new build. The 20% discount coupon NOVOSTAVBA20 is applied automatically.

Property type

Area inspected

m²

What's included

New-build handover

A detailed inspection of a new flat or house when taking it over from the developer.

Verification of the actual floor area
Floors, wall and ceiling surfaces
Tiling and wall tiles, windows and sills
Entrance and interior doors
Fixtures and fittings
Building services (electrical, water, heating)
Balconies, terraces, front gardens
Cellars, garages and common areas
Handover protocol on site immediately

Optional add-ons

Repeat inspection of the new build
+CZK 4,900

A follow-up service after a pre-handover or handover of the new build has already taken place. The inspector checks whether the defects and unfinished work found during the previous visit have been remedied, and whether the repairs damaged any other parts of the property.

Your inspection price

— —

NOVOSTAVBA20 (−20 %) —

The NOVOSTAVBA20 coupon is applied automatically to new-build handovers.

Travel: CZK 10/km, minimum CZK 500.

What you get on the spot

A handover report signed right at the handover

The standard output of a handover is a handover report. We draw the report up right at the handover, and you sign it together with the developer's representative. It lists every defect and snag found, which the developer must remedy or settle with money off the price.

A handover report signed on the spot. The developer keeps the original; you keep a copy. No further haggling.

Sample report. Apartment handover

Modřanský park 3230, Prague 4 · apartment 4+kk

2 / 5

Strana 2, popis bytové jednotky včetně údajů z katastru nemovitostí

Strana 3, seznam 47 zjištěných vad a nedodělků s přesnou lokací v bytě

Strana 5, půdorys bytu s vyznačením místností a lokace závad

Page 4 of 5

This was just a fraction

The full report runs to 5 pages with photo documentation, a floor plan, and a cost estimate for each of the 35 defects found.

Open the full sample report

Estimated repairs: —

What we check

What does a new-build handover inspection cover?

A new-build handover inspection is a detailed check focused on defects and snags. Working to our detailed methodology, we inspect every significant part of your new property.

Layout and floor-area check

You'll see whether the property really has the stated floor area. We confirm that the layout of the apartment or house matches the design and any changes you requested.

Tiling and wall cladding

We assess the geometric accuracy and quality of the tiling, cladding, and related details.

Windows and sills

We inspect all windows, window frames, and balcony doors in detail (whether they open and close correctly, seal well, and are free of dirt or damage) and we check that they're level and set at the right height. We also confirm that the external and internal sills are correctly fitted.

Entrance and interior doors

We inspect all doors and frames in detail, checking that the frames are correctly fitted and that the door leaves open and close smoothly and are free of damage.

Fixtures and fittings

We check the bathroom fixtures and any other fittings in the property being handed over (installation, damage or dirt, functionality).

Building services (water, drainage, gas, heating, ventilation, electrical)

We test that all the building services work and look for any damage to the end fittings.

Basements, garages, and other spaces being handed over

We check that the dimensions meet the standards and the design, and identify any damage or elements that do not work.

Fire safety and hygiene conditions

We assess compliance with fire safety requirements and hygiene conditions.

How it works

From the phone call to a signed report within 24 hours

When your handover is tomorrow, we come tomorrow. When your date is a week away, we have plenty of time to sort out the details. Either way, you walk away with a handover report signed right on the spot.

01
Book the handover
Reply within 15 minutes
Ideally 5 days before the date set by the developer, in urgent cases 24 hours is enough. We arrange an inspector from your region and request the available documentation.
02
We inspect the new build
Apartment 1 to 2 hours, house 3 to 4 hours
The inspector arrives and checks the property in detail together with you and the developer's representative.
03
Defects logged straight into the report
Report ready on the spot
We thoroughly document every defect and snag in the handover report so the developer can fix them efficiently.

Case study

We found 47 defects in a single Prague apartment

Prague 9

3+kk apartment, new build Prague 9 · October 2025

A buyer asked us to handle the handover of a 3+kk apartment in a new build in Prague 9. It was a well-known developer with a good reputation. During the three-hour inspection we found 47 defects and snags: misaligned tiling in the bathroom, a poorly fitted window in the bedroom, a damp stain on the hallway ceiling, badly adjusted doors, a scratched kitchen unit, unfinished joints on the balcony, missing sealing at the sill. All of it ended up in the handover report. The developer repaired the defects over the following month without argument. The client wrote to us that without us they would have noticed three at most.

47
defects in the report: CZK 0
cost to the client: ~3
defects without an inspection

Client experiences

What buyers say after a new-build handover

"Inspector Pištělák checked the apartment thoroughly and professionally. He pointed out things that, as a layperson, I would not have noticed at all."

"Inspector Šindelářová went through the whole apartment in detail. We received a perfectly prepared report with photographs and a description of each defect by email that same evening."

"She found so many defects and shortcomings that I would never have noticed myself. The result was a very detailed report of the defects found."

"The inspector would not be brushed off by the developer's representatives and insisted on recording even the smallest details. At the handover I felt I was not the weaker party."

01 / 04 Read all reviews from handovers →

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The most common concern

Will the developer agree if I show up with an inspector?

This is the most common question we get from new-build buyers. The short answer: a good developer welcomes the inspector. One who objects has just handed you your first warning sign.

A good developer has no problem with an inspector present.

Our inspector is an expert counterpart who deals with objectively identified defects at the handover, not subjective feelings. If the defects and snags are well documented, the developer usually has no problem having the construction contractor put them right.
Notification, not permission.

When you take handover of a property, you have the right to bring your own expert advisor. You just notify the developer that they'll be there; you don't have to ask permission.
If a developer won't allow an inspection, treat it as a red flag.

When a developer refuses to let an inspector take part, be extra cautious. We recommend consulting your lawyer, or one we work with.

A small note on the contract.

With some developers, the scope of the handover is set out in the contract. Check your purchase contract, or send it over and we'll advise you how to proceed.

FAQ

Common questions about the new-build handover inspection

Six situations in which buyers most often ask about the rules of the handover and about what the developer can refuse. Still not sure about something? Give us a call and we'll talk it through.

Reply within 15 minutes +420 730 193 333

What is a new-build handover and why does it matter?

A professional new-build handover is a formal process in which the buyer takes possession of an apartment or house from the developer. It’s your last chance to raise defects, and the developer is legally obliged to fix every defect identified at handover at their own cost. Without an expert check, you risk finding defects only after you move in, and then having to deal with them yourself.
When should I book the handover inspection?

Ideally 5 to 7 days before the planned handover date. We need time to assign an inspector from your region and review the available documentation (floor plans, fit-out standards). For urgent dates, get in touch anyway. We’ll do our best to accommodate last-minute requests.
What if the developer refuses to sign the report?

The developer has no right to refuse to have defects documented at handover. If they refuse to sign the report, the inspector records that in the report and advises you on the next legal steps. You have the legal right not to accept the apartment until the defects are fixed.
How many defects does an inspector usually find?

On average we find 15 defects in a single new-build handover. The most common are uneven floors and walls, windows that don’t seal properly, sockets that don’t work, damaged tiling, and discrepancies in the apartment’s floor area. Even seemingly minor defects can mean costly repairs down the line.
Does the handover apply to houses too?

Yes, we handle handovers both for developer-built apartment units and for newly built houses. For houses the inspection is more extensive, covering the roof, facade, foundations, and groundworks too. The price depends on the size of the house.
Can I claim defects even after the handover?

Yes, the statutory warranty period on a new build is 5 years. For any defects found after the handover, though, you’ll have to file the warranty claim yourself and prove they existed at the time of handover. That’s why it’s important to have as detailed a handover report as possible: it serves as evidence of the property’s condition at the moment you take possession.

Eliška Davídková

Inquiry coordinator, head office

I am here for your questions and no-obligation consultations. I will help you choose the right type of inspection and arrange an available slot with a specialist in your region.

+420 730 193 333 eliska.davidkova@nemoinspekt.cz Message on WhatsApp

No-obligation enquiry

The developer must repair defects found at handover. Don't let them slip by.

We'll arrange a date, the type of inspection, and an inspector for your region.

Taking handover of a new apartment or house from the developer? Don't take on their mistakes too.

Certified property inspectors

Independent of the developer

Report signed on the spot

100% Satisfaction guarantee

New-build handover

Repeat inspection of the new build

A handover report signed right at the handover

This was just a fraction

Book the handover

We inspect the new build

Defects logged straight into the report

3+kk apartment, new build Prague 9 · October 2025

Will the developer agree if I show up with an inspector?

Eliška Davídková

The developer must repair defects found at handover. Don't let them slip by.