new builds
New build drainage issues — what your warranty covers
Drainage faults are common on new builds. Get them logged before your NHBC or Premier Guarantee period ends.
New build drainage is a frequent snagging item. Materials are often fine — installation, by sub-contracted ground-workers under time pressure, often isn't. The good news is you have warranty cover for years.
Common defects we see on new builds
- Crushed soakaway crates under driveways (wrong load rating, or installed without enough cover)
- Step-outs at joints in clay or plastic runs where the pipe wasn't bedded properly
- Rocks and concrete spoil left inside the run from construction
- Cross-connections — foul connected to surface-water or vice versa
- Falls too shallow so the run silts and blocks
- Soakaway placed in clay that won't percolate
What's covered
Most new builds carry one of:
- NHBC Buildmark — 10 years structural, 2 years defects (where the builder fixes anything that fails to meet NHBC standards)
- Premier Guarantee — similar 10/2 split
- LABC New Home Warranty — similar
Drainage is included in structural cover, but you usually need to prove the defect to claim. That's where a CCTV survey comes in.
What to do
- In the first 2 years — raise every issue with the developer in writing. They're obliged to investigate and fix.
- After 2 years — go via the warranty provider. They'll typically require a CCTV survey with a written defect report.
- Get an independent CCTV survey before either, especially if you're close to the 2-year cliff. £180–£240 + VAT can save you a five-figure repair bill.
We regularly produce warranty-grade CCTV reports for new build owners. Ask for the 'homebuyer-grade' specification — that's the format warranty providers expect.