Why buyers book one
Drainage defects are excluded from most valuation surveys, and once you complete, the cost of a collapsed run or root-damaged lateral is yours. A survey either gives you peace of mind or gives you grounds to renegotiate.
Our Services
Homebuyer Drain Surveys
A standard homebuyer report stops at ground level. A drain survey before exchange is the cheapest way to avoid inheriting a five-figure repair.
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Homebuyer Drain Surveys
Buying a property? A drain survey before exchange is one of the most overlooked checks — and one of the most important.
A CCTV survey carried out during conveyancing can identify collapsed pipes, root intrusion, misaligned joints or illegal connections before you complete. Problems found after exchange become your problem. Our reports are clear enough for a buyer and detailed enough for a solicitor.
- Pre-purchase CCTV drain inspection
- Written survey report and footage
- Solicitor-ready documentation
- Available across all coverage areas
What the survey covers
The full accessible drain run from the property to the boundary or shared sewer, including manholes and inspection chambers, with recorded footage, defect photographs and a plain-English report.
Fitting your timeline
We book surveys around your conveyancing dates and issue the report quickly so it can inform your offer or your solicitor's enquiries before exchange.
Why Buyers Arrange a Drain Survey
The drains are one of the few parts of a property nobody sees before completion — and one of the more expensive things to put right afterwards.
- Underground pipework hidden from any visual inspection
- Older clay or pitch-fibre pipework at the property
- Mature trees or hedges close to the drain run
- Evidence that drains have blocked repeatedly
- An extension or driveway built over a drain run
- A shared drain or private treatment system serving the property
How a Pre-Purchase Survey Works
- 1
Arrange access
Access is agreed with the seller or agent. Most are happy to allow it, and we can work around viewings.
- 2
Inspect the run
The accessible drainage from the property to the boundary or shared sewer, including manholes and inspection chambers, recorded on camera.
- 3
Record the findings
Cracks, displaced joints, root intrusion, collapsed sections and standing water indicating a dropped pipe, each logged with its location on the run.
- 4
Report and options
A written report with footage and still images, plus costed repair options where defects were found, so you can decide how to proceed.
How this differs from a general CCTV survey
The inspection method is the same as any CCTV drain survey; the difference is the purpose. A homebuyer survey is written for someone deciding whether and on what terms to buy, so findings are described in plain terms alongside what putting them right would involve.
Enquiries
Ask about homebuyer drain surveys
Send your postcode and phone number and we'll confirm availability for your area and talk you through what the job involves. No call-out charge, and a fixed price agreed before any work starts.
Prefer to talk it through? Call 0330 128 1329 — answered 24/7.
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FAQs
Homebuyer Drain Surveys — Common Questions
Really impressed with the CCTV survey and clear report we received. Friendly team, fixed price and no mess left behind. Fantastic service!
Mark R.
Southampton
Brilliant service! They arrived within the hour and sorted our blocked drain quickly and professionally. No call-out charge was a huge bonus. Highly recommend!
Sarah T.
Bournemouth
Called late at night with an emergency and they were with us fast. Great communication and sorted the problem first time. Top company!
Emma L.
Salisbury
Want to see the standard of our work? Read write-ups of recent drainage jobs.
Advice centre
Helpful Drainage Guides
- What Is a CCTV Drain Survey?How a camera inspection works, what the report should tell you, and when a survey saves money rather than adding to the bill.Read the guide
- How to Prevent Blocked Drains: A Household GuideThe handful of habits that prevent most of the blockages we get called to, plus a short seasonal checklist.Read the guide
Where we work
Homebuyer Drain Surveys Near You
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Related services
Services That Often Go With This
- CCTV Drain SurveysFind out exactly what's going on inside your drains, without guessing.
- Drain RepairsCracked, collapsed or misaligned drains, repaired with or without digging.
- No-Dig Drain ReliningA new pipe formed inside the old one — no digging, usually done in a day.
Want to know if we cover your postcode? See the areas we cover.