Site handover: quality control checklist (2026 edition)

Preparing the handover: documents, scope and points to watch

Defining the handover scope and the areas to check on site

Before the handover, clarify what is checked and what isn't. List the work packages involved and split the site into zones: heated rooms, loft, basement, plant room. Also identify the interfaces: insulation around joinery, network routing, wall penetrations. That's often where defects hide. Keep an annotated plan or sketch, and settle who will be present on the day. No ambiguity.

Gathering the essential documents: quotes, plans, manuals, technical sheets, test reports

Bring together the signed quotes and amendments, the plans and diagrams (electrical, hydraulic, ventilation), and the manufacturer manuals. For equipment such as a heat pump or mechanical ventilation, prepare the technical sheets, the commissioning record, and the test or settings reports: pressure, flow rates, airtightness, balancing. A clear file avoids arguments when it's time to clear snags. A written trail.

Preparing the quality control equipment: levels, camera, hygrometer, paper or digital checklists

The right equipment saves time. Bring a spirit or laser level, a torch, a camera or smartphone for time-stamped photos, and a hygrometer to check humidity before closing up linings or installing finishes. Add a simple checklist, paper or digital, with a space to note snags, the room, and the date. Clean control.

Quality control by work package: checking execution and compliance on site

Insulation and airtightness: continuity, thermal bridges, vapour barrier and finishes

Before the handover, check the continuity of the insulation. No gaps at the edges, no compression. Track down thermal bridges at floor-wall junctions, load-bearing walls, and window reveals. On the inside, check the vapour barrier. Overlaps, tape, duct and box penetrations must all stay airtight. Finishes must protect the insulation, not puncture it.

Heating, ventilation, controls: commissioning, settings, safety and noise

Commissioning needs to be checked. Control parameters, water curve, emitter balancing, and safety tests. On the ventilation side, validate flow rates and check for no leaks or crushed ducts. If there are complaints, measure noise and correct it. A signed settings log prevents callbacks.

Joinery and finishes: sealing, opening mechanisms, alignment, rework and cleaning

On joinery, sealing makes the difference. Check strips, seals, sills, and water drainage. Opening elements must close without effort, without friction, and stay aligned. Note any rework as a snag, then finish with a thorough clean. This is often what the client remembers most.

Testing, measuring, proving: the checks to carry out on handover day

Functional tests and simple measurements: mechanical ventilation flow rates, temperatures, pressures, humidity differential

On handover day, bring out the instruments. Measure mechanical ventilation flow rates at the vents (values consistent with the sizing), check supply and return temperatures, and check hydraulic network pressures if there's a heat pump or boiler. A reading of the humidity differential before and after start-up also helps objectively assess comfort. Note the date, the instrument used, the measurement point, and the result.

Enhanced visual inspection: dated photos, snag tracking and traceability

Do a full walkthrough, room by room. Take dated photos of sensitive areas (penetrations, ducts, vents, insulation, boxed-in areas). Note snags directly, without going around them, and record them in a signed document. Add traceability of the references installed (labels, serial numbers, manuals) to avoid arguments later.

Checking consistency of expected performance: insulation installed vs. planned, settings vs. client usage

Compare what was installed against what was planned. Insulation thickness and continuity, vapour barrier, treatment of thermal bridges, control settings and setpoints. Confirm actual usage with the client (schedules, heated rooms, ventilation). Two minutes of explanation turns measurements into useful evidence.

Writing the handover report: snags, deadlines and responsibilities

Formulating clear snags: location, defect, photo, rework requirement, deadline

On handover day, aim for precise snags. A vague snag gets argued over, a detailed snag gets fixed.

• Exact location (room, wall, reference point).
• Defect observed, without interpretation.
• Dated photo, attached to the report.
• Expected rework requirement (what, how, finish).
• Realistic, written deadline for clearance.

Managing snag-clearance deadlines and organising the rework on site

Set a written schedule for the rework. Specify who provides access, protection, any shutdowns, and the intervention time slots. After correction, get it validated on site and record the snag clearance in writing.

Securing signatures, the handover date and the transfer of custody of the works

The report must carry a certain date and the signatures of the parties. Note the handover of keys, the appendices, and the snags. Handover triggers the starting point of the legal warranties, even if snags remain to be cleared.

After handover: snag follow-up and useful evidence for checks in 2026

Keeping evidence: report, photos, product sheets, RGE certificates, maintenance manuals

After the handover, file everything in one place. Keep the signed report, dated before-and-after photos, technical sheets and performance data, product references, the company's up-to-date RGE certificate, and the maintenance manuals handed to the client. Add, if possible, the commissioning records (heat pump, mechanical ventilation) and evidence of how critical points were treated.

Ensuring quality follow-up: scheduling snag clearance and the clearance report

Snags are a small draught in the file. Note them, set an intervention date, and confirm clearance with a dated, signed clearance report. Take new photos and keep the client correspondence. This is often what secures an inspection.

Anticipating 2026 grant-related requests: CEE, MaPrimeRénov' and supporting documents on the tradesperson's side

For grants, you'll mainly be asked for tidy documents. A detailed invoice (work, quantities, surfaces, performance, address), a signed CEE sworn statement, RGE proof for the right trade area, and, for MaPrimeRénov', the end-of-work documents sent to the client. Prepare a single PDF file, ready to send. To limit rejections, also see our advice on avoiding MaPrimeRénov' application refusals.