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 over an apartment or house from the developer. It is the last chance to raise defects, and the developer is legally obliged to repair every defect identified at handover at their own cost. Without an expert check you risk discovering defects only after you move in and 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 study the available documentation (floor plans, fit-out standards). For urgent dates, get in touch anyway, we do our best to accommodate last-minute requests.

What if the developer refuses to sign the protocol?

The developer has no right to refuse the documentation of defects at handover. If they were to refuse to sign the protocol, the inspector records that fact in the protocol and advises you on the next legal steps. You have the legal right not to take over the apartment until the defects are remedied.

How many defects does an inspector usually find?

On average we find 15 defects during a single new-build handover. Most often these are uneven floors and walls, poorly sealing windows, non-working sockets, damaged tiling, or 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 carry out handovers both for apartment units from developers and for newly built houses. With 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. Defects found after the handover, however, you have to claim yourself and prove that they existed at the time of handover. That is why it is important to have the most detailed handover protocol possible. It serves as evidence of the property's condition at the moment of takeover.

New-build handover

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

An inspection at the new-build handover uncovers defects and unfinished work that the developer then has to remedy or settle with a discount off the purchase price.

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 practice.
Independent of the developer

We work only for you. No commissions and no ties to development companies.
Protocol signed on the spot

The output of the inspection is a list of defects to be remedied, drawn up on the spot.
100% Satisfaction guarantee

We work so that every client leaves satisfied. Client references rated 4.8 out of 5.

Price and inquiry

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.

Floor plan and 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
+4 900 Kč

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: 10 Kč/km, minimum 500 Kč.

What you get on the spot

A handover protocol signed right at the handover

The standard output of a handover is a handover protocol. The protocol is drawn up directly at the handover, and you sign it together with the developer's representative. It lists every defect and unfinished item found, which the developer must remedy or settle with a discount off the purchase price.

A handover protocol signed on the spot. The developer gets the original, you keep a copy. No further haggling.

Vzorová zpráva. Přejímka bytu

Modřanský park 3230, Praha 4 · byt 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 unfinished work. Following our own thorough methodology, we inspect every significant part of your new property.

Layout and verification of the actual floor area

You will find out whether the property really has the stated floor area. We verify that the layout of the apartment or house matches the design and any client-requested changes.

Tiling and wall cladding

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

Windows and sills

We carry out a detailed check of all windows, window frames, and balcony doors, whether they open and close correctly, seal sufficiently, and are not soiled or damaged, and we check the level and the height of the installation. We verify the correct fitting of the external and internal sills.

Entrance and interior doors

We carry out a detailed check of all doors and frames - we determine whether the frames are correctly fitted, the door leaves open and close without problems, and they are not damaged.

Fixtures and fittings

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

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

We test the functionality of all the building services and focus on any damage to the end fittings.

Cellars, garages, and other spaces being handed over

We verify whether the dimensions meet the standards and the design, and identify any damage or non-functional elements.

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 protocol 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. In both cases the output is a handover protocol 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 recorded straight into the protocol
Protocol ready on the spot
We thoroughly document every defect and unfinished item in the handover protocol so the developer can remedy them efficiently.

Case study

In one apartment in Prague we recorded 47 defects

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 unfinished items: 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 protocol. 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 protocol: 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 flat thoroughly and professionally. He pointed out things that, as a layperson, I would not have noticed at all."

"Inspector Šindelářová went through the whole flat in detail. We received a perfectly prepared protocol 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 protocol 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. With a decent developer the inspector is welcome. With one who protests, you have just received your first warning sign.

A decent 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 unfinished work are well documented, the developer usually has no problem having the construction contractor put them right.
Notification, not permission.

When taking over a property you have the right to bring your own expert advisor. You simply notify the developer of their presence, you do not have to ask for permission.
Whoever resists a check has something to hide.

If the developer refuses to allow an inspector to take part, extra caution is needed. We recommend a consultation with your (or our) cooperating lawyer.

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 to us and we will 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 clear on something? Give us a call, we are glad to advise you in person.

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 over an apartment or house from the developer. It is the last chance to raise defects, and the developer is legally obliged to repair every defect identified at handover at their own cost. Without an expert check you risk discovering defects only after you move in and 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 study the available documentation (floor plans, fit-out standards). For urgent dates, get in touch anyway, we do our best to accommodate last-minute requests.
What if the developer refuses to sign the protocol?

The developer has no right to refuse the documentation of defects at handover. If they were to refuse to sign the protocol, the inspector records that fact in the protocol and advises you on the next legal steps. You have the legal right not to take over the apartment until the defects are remedied.
How many defects does an inspector usually find?

On average we find 15 defects during a single new-build handover. Most often these are uneven floors and walls, poorly sealing windows, non-working sockets, damaged tiling, or 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 carry out handovers both for apartment units from developers and for newly built houses. With 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. Defects found after the handover, however, you have to claim yourself and prove that they existed at the time of handover. That is why it is important to have the most detailed handover protocol possible. It serves as evidence of the property’s condition at the moment of takeover.

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

Request, no obligation

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 over a new apartment or house from the developer? Don't take over their mistakes too.

Certified property inspectors

Independent of the developer

Protocol signed on the spot

100% Satisfaction guarantee

New-build handover

Repeat inspection of the new build

A handover protocol signed right at the handover

This was just a fraction

Book the handover

We inspect the new build

Defects recorded straight into the protocol

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.