Defect or snag? What counts as a breach and what doesn't
The short answer: a snag is a finishing blemish (paint splashes, a stiff door) — normal, listable, fixed at the end. A defect breaches the Consumer Rights Act 2015 standard: work not done with reasonable care and skill. The difference decides tone, evidence, and whether a surveyor is worth it.
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-03
The line between them
- Snag: cosmetic, easily remedied, no functional consequence. Remedy: the snagging log and a completion deadline.
- Defect: fails the care-and-skill standard or a contract term — leaks, cracking from movement, non-compliant work, wrong materials. Remedy: the full dispute route starting with your rights.
The tolerance question
"Building tolerances" are real (limits of straightness, level, finish set by industry standards) — builders correctly invoke them for minor deviations. What tolerances cannot excuse: water ingress, unsafe structure, missing certification, work outside the agreed scope. An independent opinion separates the two when argued (surveyor trigger list).
This page is general information, not legal advice. Verified 2026-09-03.
Preparing a claim? EvidenceCanvas (Casewright) helps you organise your evidence and draft pre-action documents for the small claims track. It is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
Reviewed by Sean McNamara · 2026-09-03 · Independent information directory — not legal advice.