Buying a home in Northamptonshire? Why a pre-purchase CCTV drain survey is worth a look

The short answer

A pre-purchase CCTV drain survey lets you see inside the pipes before you buy. It is not a legal requirement. Yet it can show defects that a general survey may not cover. The report can also support a talk about price.

Why drains are easy to miss

Most buyers rely on a valuation, a legal check and a building survey. None of these needs to look underground. Ask your surveyor whether the drains were inspected. Read the wording in the report too, because it may say the drains were not inspected. If so, a camera survey fills the gap.

Drains are hard to judge from the surface. A pipe can look fine from a manhole while a crack sits further along. That is why a camera run is the usual way to check.

What a survey can find

A camera can show faults that cause trouble later.

• Roots that have entered joints.
• Joints that have slipped apart.
• Cracks, breaks and collapsed sections.
• Fat and scale that narrow the pipe.
• Low spots where water sits.

Our guide to what a CCTV drain survey shows explains each fault in more detail. Older pipes are more prone to roots and slipped joints, yet newer pipes can still block. Our guide to why drains block covers the common causes.

What it costs

Two UK guides give a clear range. MyJobQuote puts a pre-purchase survey at £250 to £350. KIKK Civil Engineering gives £200 to £400 for a homebuyer survey with a full report. Both are guides, not quotes from us.

The cost sits small beside the price of a home. For example, several guides put a typical drain clearance at about £80 to £250. Larger repairs cost more, and a survey shows how large yours might be. Our CCTV drain survey cost guide sets out the figures in full.

When to book

Book the survey early, after your offer is accepted and before you exchange. Changes after exchange are much harder, since you are then committed to the sale. Ask the seller for access to manholes and covers, because a blocked cover can delay the visit.

If the seller has lived there for years, ask what they know. Past blockages and past repairs are useful clues. Still, treat the answers as hints rather than proof, and let the camera confirm them.

Using the report

A good report includes footage, a written summary and a plan. The plan marks where each fault sits. That helps when you ask the seller to fix a defect or lower the price.

Show the report to your solicitor, because they can decide how to raise it. The plan also tells you who owns the pipe, which matters for repairs. Our guide to who is responsible for a blocked drain explains the boundary rules. If a fault sits beyond the boundary, read how to report a blocked drain or sewer.

What else to check

Drains are only one part of a purchase. Ask about the age of the boiler and the hot water cylinder. If the home has a cylinder, the hot water cylinder cost guide shows typical prices.

Check any bathroom with a macerator pump, because these fail in set ways. Our Saniflo troubleshooting guide lists them. If you plan a new bathroom, the bathroom fitting cost guide helps you budget.

Keep a plumber’s details ready for move-in day. Our guide on emergency plumber costs shows what to expect. Drain trouble differs from town to town, so see blocked drains across the Nene Valley.

Frequently asked questions

Is a drain survey a legal requirement?

No. It is a choice, and it gives you facts before you commit.

How long does a survey take?

Many home surveys take an hour or two. Longer runs take more time, so ask the engineer.

Can I ask the seller to pay for repairs?

You can raise it through your solicitor. The report gives you evidence, although the seller does not have to agree.

Book a pre-purchase survey

Our pre-purchase CCTV survey service and CCTV drain survey service take requests through the online form. If you find a blockage, see our blocked drains service. Browse all our services or the areas we cover. Add your town and a short description, because that helps an engineer get back to you.

Buying near Olney? See plumbers in Olney. In Newport Pagnell, see plumbers in Newport Pagnell. Around Stony Stratford, see plumbers in Stony Stratford. In Northampton, see plumbers in Northampton. For Buckingham, see plumbers in Buckingham. Coverage differs by area, so check the page for yours.