DLP Snagging Inspection Dubai
Use Your Warranty Before It Expires
If you accepted handover in 2024 or 2025, your 12-month defect liability period is running out. A DLP snagging inspection finds every fault the developer is still legally required to fix before that window closes permanently.
What Is the Defect Liability Period in Dubai?
Your DLP timeline
For the full legal framework covering DLP, decennial liability, and RERA dispute rights, see our UAE Property Laws and Standards page.
DLP vs Manufacturer Warranty , Who You Need to Chase
These are two completely different legal instruments and confusing them wastes the DLP clock.
The defect liability period is the developer’s obligation under Law No. 6 of 2019. It covers construction faults, workmanship failures, plumbing, electrical, HVAC installations, and waterproofing , anything built or installed as part of the original construction.
A manufacturer warranty is a separate commercial guarantee on specific equipment , the AC compressor, the oven, the water heater , given by the maker of that product. The developer may coordinate this claim in the first year, but it is not a DLP obligation.
What the DLP covers
- Structural changes and settling cracks in walls, ceilings, and slabs
- Plumbing faults, drainage failures, and leaks at supply connections
- Electrical installation faults including socket wiring and DB panel issues
- HVAC installation faults , drainage, ductwork, airflow performance
- Waterproofing failures in wet rooms, terraces, and roof membranes
- Finishing deterioration , tile adhesion failure, grout breakdown, silicone seal failure
- Door and window changes caused by frame settling since handover
What Is Included in a DLP Snagging Inspection?
A DLP inspection is not a repeat of the pre-handover snagging inspection. It targets a different set of faults , the ones that develop during the first months of occupation, not the ones present at construction. Dubai’s climate accelerates these failures faster than most buyers expect.
Structural settling
Hairline cracks in walls, ceilings, and around door frames caused by structural settling in the months after handover. Some are cosmetic. Others indicate movement that triggers the 10-year liability under Article 880 and require classification in the report.
Waterproofing failures
One Dubai summer is enough to reveal membrane gaps at terrace junctions, wet room junctions, and balcony drainage outlets. Thermal imaging detects moisture accumulation before it breaks through to the surface. These are the highest-value DLP claims we find.
HVAC performance under load
AC units that performed adequately in winter often show drainage faults, refrigerant issues, and airflow imbalances once running at full capacity in summer. Measured with a digital anemometer against the design specification for your unit.
Electrical changes since handover
Socket faults, DB panel issues, and MCB labelling problems that did not appear at the pre-handover inspection but have developed under live use. Every socket retested with a power socket tester. Earth continuity and polarity verified at each outlet.
Tile adhesion and grout failure
Hollow tiles that passed the pre-handover inspection sometimes develop adhesion failure under thermal cycling , Dubai’s temperature swings from 18°C AC to 45°C exterior cause expansion and contraction that weakens borderline bonds. Hollow drum test across all tiled areas again at DLP stage.
Plumbing under occupation
Leaks that were not active at pre-handover inspection sometimes develop under daily use , particularly at supply connections behind bathroom cabinets and under kitchen sinks. Moisture meter readings at all concealed connections, plus drainage gradient tested under sustained flow.
How the DLP Inspection Works in Dubai
Four steps from booking to a signed desnagging confirmation , all within the DLP window.
Find Your Handover Date
Locate the handover acceptance date in your SPA. Count forward 9 months. If you are past that point, book immediately , every week inside the window matters.
Engineer On-Site
Full DLP-scope inspection targeting defects that develop during occupation. Studio and 1BR: 2 to 3 hours. 2 and 3BR: 3 to 4 hours. Villas: 4 to 6 hours. Same-day availability.
Report Submitted to Developer
Full photographic report in 24 hours. Sent directly to your developer with you copied. Request written acknowledgment and a reference number , this creates the paper trail RERA needs.
Desnagging Before Month 12
We return to verify every item is fully closed before the non-structural DLP window expires. Around 12% of items are incompletely repaired at the first round and require a second trade visit.
How Much Does a DLP Inspection Cost in Dubai?
DLP inspection pricing follows the same structure as pre-handover snagging , the scope is comparable and the report format is identical. Every price includes the on-site inspection and a photographic report delivered within 24 hours.
| Property Type | Size Range | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1-bedroom | Up to 750 sq ft | AED 799 |
| 2-bedroom apartment | 750 to 1,400 sq ft | AED 1,200 |
| 3-bedroom apartment | 1,400 to 2,200 sq ft | AED 1,800 |
| Townhouse | 2,200 to 3,500 sq ft | AED 2,500 |
| Villa | 3,500 sq ft and above | From AED 3,500 |
| Thermal imaging add-on | Any property | From AED 400 |
Full UAE pricing at our pricing page.
Check whether your DLP is still open
Tell us your handover date , we confirm whether you are in the window and what to do next
DLP Inspection Questions Buyers Ask
Book Your DLP Inspection Before the Window Closes
Once the 12-month defect liability period expires, every repair cost transfers to you permanently. The developer’s financial obligation ends. The escrow retention is released. Book at month 9 to 11 , not month 12.