At handover, several events can happen close together: an inspection, collection of keys, signing a possession document, utility setup and progress toward title registration. Keep a separate record of each. One signed form should not be treated as proof that every defect is resolved, every warranty has started or registered ownership is complete.
The ADREC developer journey places unit handover after the project's completion certificate and includes snagging, title deeds, community management and approved charge budgets in the process. That overview helps identify the questions to ask. Your actual unit, sale agreement and issued documents establish the detail.
Distinguish the three documents
First, ask for the relevant building completion information. Second, read the possession or handover form the developer asks you to sign. Third, confirm the unit's registration and title status. These documents concern different events and may carry different dates.
ADREC's published registration collection includes requirements for developers to notify buyers of building handover and completion-certificate dates. It is a reason to retain both dates, rather than assuming all legal protections are measured from the day a resident moves in. If a date affects a warranty or claim, have the relevant contract and current law checked by a qualified local adviser.
| Record | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Building completion information | Exact building, issuing authority and certificate date |
| Unit possession or handover form | Unit, parties, date, acceptance language and attachments |
| Snag register | Each defect, photographs, agreed action and open status |
| Warranty documents | Issuer, scope, start and end dates, reporting channel |
| Ownership record | Correct unit and owner, with any pending registration step |
Inspect with an evidence register
Use a room-by-room inspection and give each item a location, description, photograph and reference number. Check doors, windows, finishes, visible leakage, provided equipment and the safe operation of normal controls. Record missing items promised in the sale specification as well as damaged items.
Leave electrical, structural, pressure and other specialist tests to competent professionals. Do not open electrical panels, remove equipment covers or improvise hazardous tests. If there is an immediate safety concern, stop using the affected area and notify the responsible party. The snagging guide gives a more detailed inspection workflow.
Before signing, read whether the form records inspection, possession, clean acceptance or a waiver. Ask how the open snag register will be incorporated and retain the final signed version with its attachments. Do not assume a handwritten reservation automatically preserves every right. If the meaning is disputed, pause for independent advice before signing a statement you cannot confirm.
Reconcile the keys and operating pack
Count the keys, cards, remotes and parking access provided, and ask how replacements or additional access are handled. Request manuals for supplied equipment, warranty contacts, community rules and the current manager's contact details. Mark anything missing and identify who will supply it.
Take dated meter readings where safely accessible and match them to the unit's account reference. Confirm the actual electricity, water and cooling providers and their owner application requirements. The buyer utility setup guide explains the account steps. Avoid budgeting from a generic connection deposit or activation deadline.
Keep defects open until the outcome is checked
Agree a reporting channel and request an action date for each open item. After a repair, inspect the specific issue again and update its status. Keep the original description and photographs, rather than replacing the record with a message that everything is resolved.
Warranty scope may differ for appliances, developer works and building systems. Request a written schedule and report faults promptly using the stated process. This guide does not assign a universal one-year cover, rectification deadline or structural claim period. Those are consequential questions requiring the actual documents and current applicable law.
Confirm title registration separately
DARI describes a service for moving an off-plan unit from the initial register to the real estate register and issuing the buyer's title deed, including a mortgage where applicable. Ask the developer and lender which steps remain for your purchase and retain the official application and issued record. Possession alone does not tell you that the registration process has finished.
Sources and limits
The ADREC developer journey, registration collection and DARI transfer service were checked on 2 October 2026. No individual handover form, warranty, completion certificate or title was verified. This is an editorial preparation guide, not legal or financial advice.