Snagging in communal areas - owner rights

[Cara Davidson]

Hi, can anyone give me or point me to some advice on owner's rights in seeing snagging works in communal areas completed to a satisfactory standard?

We are in the last block in a new build development which has not yet been handed over to the factor. The factor produced a list of outstanding works for completion before they would accept responsibility. Work on the main item (a crack in the external render) is now underway, but we suspect the factor will 'let pass' some of the (admittedly more minor) items once the issue of the render is dealt with.

There is a fledgling owners association, and I think that association should be consulted by the factor before they accept handover of the block. (It wasn't consulted over the previous blocks, but arguably was not up and running at that point). What rights do we as owners have if we feel communal work is not up to scratch? There has been talk about the factor working on behalf of the builder - is this right?

[Tony]

The factor, property management company, is paid by you to maintain the property. You need to complain to them not the builder - the factor can fix the issues themselves or get the builder to fix it. If they are doing the latter and the builder is delaying that is not your problem and they should not use it as an excuse.

This was on Watchdog recently - BBC Watchdog: Mould growing in flats - Consumer Forum

A residents' group is a good idea.