A pre-purchase drain survey (sometimes called a home buyer drain survey) is a CCTV inspection of the property’s drainage system. It’s designed to uncover hidden issues that aren’t visible during a standard home survey — things like cracks, root ingress, partial collapses, misconnections and long-term build-up.
Because drains are mostly underground, a typical HomeBuyer or building survey won’t usually include a full internal inspection of the pipework. A CCTV drain survey fills that gap with video evidence and a clear report, so you can make an informed decision before you become responsible for any repair costs.
Call to book a visit, or email to request a quote. For urgent issues such as overflow or backups, contact us as soon as possible
Drain defects can be expensive and disruptive once you’ve moved in — especially if damage sits under driveways, extensions or hard landscaping. A pre-purchase survey helps you understand the condition of the system and whether any immediate work is required.
If defects are found, you can use the survey findings to obtain repair quotations and factor those costs into the negotiation. This might mean asking the seller to resolve issues before exchange, or agreeing a price reduction to reflect the work needed.
We begin by confirming access points (manholes, gullies, rodding eyes) and the symptoms or concerns you want us to focus on. Where visibility is limited due to build-up, we may recommend cleaning first so the camera footage and findings are accurate.
We then complete the CCTV inspection and provide a plain-English summary of the drainage condition. If we find defects, we’ll explain what they mean in practical terms and outline the most sensible repair options — including no-dig repairs where suitable.
If the survey highlights defects, the most effective way to use the information is to obtain a like-for-like repair quotation based on the CCTV findings. That quotation gives you a concrete number to discuss with the seller, rather than negotiating on a vague ‘might need work’ statement.
Depending on timescales and what you agree with the seller, the outcome is usually one of the following: (1) the seller fixes the issue before exchange; (2) you agree a reduction to the sale price to reflect the repair cost; or (3) you proceed with full awareness and plan the work after completion.
After the inspection you receive a clear summary of the findings, with supporting images and/or video where appropriate. Where defects are identified, we provide practical recommendations and can also provide a repair quotation so you have a clear figure to use in negotiations.
Not usually. Standard home surveys focus on visible and accessible areas of the property, while drainage pipework is largely underground. A CCTV drain survey is a specialist inspection carried out separately.
Most buyers arrange it after their offer is accepted but before exchange of contracts, so there’s still time to negotiate or agree remedial work if defects are found.
It varies by property size, access and whether cleaning is needed first. Many residential surveys are completed within a few hours, but complex systems or limited access can take longer.
Common findings include cracks, displaced joints, root ingress, partial collapse, backfalls (poor gradients), build-up and misconnections. The report helps confirm whether an issue is a maintenance task or a structural repair.
Yes. If defects are found, we can quote for the recommended repair work (for example patch lining, full lining, excavation or replacement). Buyers often use this figure when discussing the purchase price or asking the seller to complete repairs.
