cctv surveys
What is a CCTV drain survey and do I need one to buy a house?
If your homebuyer survey mentions drainage concerns, a CCTV drain survey is almost always worth the £180–£240. Here's what it covers.
A CCTV drain survey sends a small waterproof camera through your underground drainage and produces a video, a written report and a schematic. It's the only way to know what's actually going on inside the pipe.
When you need one
- Buying a house where the homebuyer or building survey flags drainage concerns (very common phrase: 'drainage was not inspected — further investigation recommended')
- Recurring blockages in the same drain
- Subsidence in the garden or close to the foundations
- Old property with original clay or pitch-fibre pipework
- New build before the structural warranty period ends
- Insurance claim — most insurers require photographic evidence of damage before agreeing repair scope
What's in a good report
A WRc-standard report includes:
- Continuous colour video on USB or download
- Schematic of the run showing every chamber
- Defect codes (e.g. CR for crack, DEF for deformation, RI for root intrusion) with severity grades 1–5
- Photographs of every significant defect
- Recommendations for repair, with rough order-of-magnitude costs
Typical costs
- Domestic CCTV survey — from £180 + VAT for a small property with one accessible run
- Homebuyer-grade survey — from £240 + VAT, includes full schematic mapping suitable for sharing with conveyancer or lender
- Commercial survey — quoted on inspection
Is it worth it for a house purchase?
For most UK homes, yes. A blocked or collapsed drain run can cost £2,000–£10,000+ to put right with excavation. Spending £240 to find out before you complete is some of the cheapest insurance you'll buy.