Most buyers check the roof, the windows and the wiring. Few think about the pipes under the house. Yet a hidden drain fault can cost a lot to fix once you own the property. A CCTV drain survey shows what a standard home survey cannot.
What Is a CCTV Drain Survey?
A CCTV drain survey puts a small, waterproof camera into the drain. The camera travels along the pipe and records its condition. This lets an engineer spot blockages, cracks and other faults without any digging, because the camera does the looking.
Does a House Survey Check the Drains?
Usually not in detail. A surveyor writes about what they can see and reach. Since drains run underground, a fault stays hidden unless it has already caused damp or movement. If you want to know the pipe condition, you need to ask for a drain survey.
Common Problems a Drain Survey Can Find
Tree Root Ingress
Roots seek out water, and a drain provides it. They can enter through cracks and joints. As a result, they may cause blockages or even a collapsed pipe. Homes with mature trees nearby face a higher risk.
Collapsed or Broken Pipes
Older homes often have clay or pitch fibre pipes. These can crack or break as they age. A survey can show a crack or collapse before you buy, because the camera records the pipe. You then know if the repair needs digging.
Displaced Joints
Ground movement, traffic and poor fitting can pull pipe joints apart. Waste can then leak into the soil around the pipe. Over time this may harm the ground under the building, while the leak stays out of sight.
Incorrect Connections
Sometimes a surface water drain joins the foul drain by mistake, or the other way round. This can cause problems with the water company. A survey can spot a wrong connection while you still have time to ask questions.
Fat and Debris Build-Up
Even without damage, heavy build-up can signal future blockages, because grease keeps growing. You may want it cleared before you move in. A survey shows how bad it is.
What a Survey Costs
Prices vary a lot across the UK. National guides quote anywhere from about £100 to £500 for a home drain survey. For a pre-purchase survey, MyJobQuote lists £250 to £350. These are UK figures, not Leeds prices, so always ask for a written quote.
A survey costs far less than most repairs. A simple unblock is cheap, while root damage or a collapsed pipe can cost much more. For a rough guide to repair prices, read our drain unblocking cost guide.
Using Survey Results in Negotiations
If the survey finds a fault, you have several options. Pick the one that suits your plans:
- Ask for a lower price to cover the repair
- Ask the seller to fix the fault before completion
- Walk away if the problem is too big
- Go ahead with full knowledge and set money aside for repairs
Because you hold a written report and footage, you can speak to the seller with facts. Your solicitor can advise on the best step.
What to Look for in a Survey Provider
Ask any drainage company these questions before you book. Since quotes differ, the answers help you compare:
- Will I get the camera footage to keep?
- Will I get a written report?
- Will you explain each fault in plain words?
- Will you suggest repair options?
- Is the quote in writing?
You can book through our page on pre-purchase drain surveys. If the survey finds damage, read about pipe relining and drain excavation. These are the two main repair routes, since it helps to know them before you negotiate.
Which Homes Need Extra Care?
Some property types call for a closer look. Older terraces often have clay pipes with joints that have aged, while former shared houses may carry years of grease and wipes in the pipes. Homes with big gardens can have tree roots in the drain.
If the house sits in an area that floods, ask the surveyor to look for signs of backflow. Water can also flow back through a drain after heavy rain. A survey cannot promise the drain will stay clear, but it can show the condition on the day.
Ready to book? See our CCTV drain survey page, or send a request through the contact form. The form takes requests 24/7.
CCTV Surveys Near You
Buying in another part of West Yorkshire? Each page below covers surveys in one area. Pick the page nearest to the property, because you may want the survey done before you exchange. You can also read how drain repairs work in Leeds.