Drain Survey When Buying a House

A drain survey when buying a house is one of the most valuable pre-purchase checks you can make. Standard homebuyer surveys and even full building surveys don't inspect underground drainage — yet drain repairs can cost anywhere from £1,000 to over £15,000. Getting a CCTV drain survey before you complete gives you the information to negotiate, plan, or walk away if serious problems are found.

What to Look For

• Standard homebuyer surveys don't inspect underground drains
• Hidden drain problems are one of the most expensive post-purchase surprises
• Older properties with clay pipes are particularly high-risk
• Properties with large trees near drain runs are vulnerable to root damage
• Previous extensions may have damaged or blocked existing drainage
• Sellers are not legally obliged to disclose drainage defects in most cases

How We Diagnose the Problem

Our homebuyer drain survey uses HD CCTV cameras to inspect every accessible drain run on the property. We check pipe condition, joint integrity, gradient, and flow. The survey typically takes 1–2 hours and is completely non-invasive — no digging, no disruption.

How We Fix It

You receive a detailed written report with HD video footage, annotated screenshots, a drainage plan, and condition ratings for each pipe section. If defects are found, we include repair cost estimates you can use to negotiate the purchase price. The report is formatted for solicitors and mortgage lenders.