Quick answer
A CCTV drain survey shows the inside of the drains, which you cannot see on a viewing. Book it before you exchange contracts, since that is when you can still act on what it finds. Ask for a written report and for the video.
What a CCTV drain survey is
An engineer feeds a small waterproof camera into the drain and records what it passes. You get a view along the pipe, and the engineer needs no digging to do it. The video can show cracks, roots, displaced joints and blockages.
Most buyers pay for a building survey of the house itself. A surveyor looks at what is visible and reachable, while drains sit underground. Ask your surveyor what the report says about drainage, then decide if you want a camera check as well.
What the camera can show
Each fault tells you something different, because each has its own cause. The camera can show more than one at once. These are the main ones:
- Cracks or breaks in the pipe wall
- Roots growing in through joints
- Joints that have slipped out of line
- A collapsed or crushed section
- Build-up that narrows the pipe, such as grease or debris
- A connection that looks wrong or leads nowhere
Older clay pipes have many joints, and each joint is a place where roots or movement can cause trouble. A fault is not always a reason to walk away. However, it is better to know about it before you buy than after.
When to book
Book the survey after the seller accepts your offer and before you exchange contracts. That is the last point where the findings can change the deal. After exchange, the drains are your problem.
Your solicitor can help you ask the seller for access to the drains. Allow time for the visit and for the report, because a late survey leaves little room to act. As a result, you may have days, not weeks, to decide what to do. Our pre-purchase survey page covers what the visit involves.
How to read the report
A useful report names each fault and says where it sits along the drain. It also says how serious the engineer thinks it is. Photos or clips help, since they let you show the seller what you mean. Ask these questions when the report arrives:
- Which faults need action now, and which can wait?
- Is the fault in a pipe that serves only this house, or a shared one?
- Would a repair mean digging, or can the pipe be relined?
- Does the report say how far along the drain each fault sits?
Our guide to signs a drain needs repair helps you judge the answers. Our page on drain repairs explains the options, including pipe relining.
Using the results in talks
Once you have the report, you have four options. Pick the one that fits the size of the fault:
- Ask for a lower price to cover the repair
- Ask the seller to carry out the repair before completion
- Walk away if the problems are too large
- Go ahead and set money aside for the work
Get a written quote for any repair before you go back to the seller. A figure from an engineer carries more weight than a guess. Ask what the quote covers, because a quote that leaves things out is hard to use in talks.
What a survey costs
Prices vary with the length of the drain and the detail of the report. For example, MyJobQuote gives a typical UK range of £250-£350 for a pre-purchase survey. Survey Match gives £200-£350 plus VAT for a home with 2-3 bedrooms.
These are typical UK ranges from two separate sources, not York quotes. Since each source counts different jobs, do not blend them, and ask the engineer for a written quote before work starts.
Where to find a survey
Survey pages are available for CCTV drain surveys in York, CCTV drain surveys in Selby and CCTV drain surveys in Haxby. The locations page lists all areas, and the CCTV drain surveys page explains the service. For a survey guide with a local angle, read about what a CCTV survey finds in Selby and Tadcaster.
Buyers in other towns can read about CCTV drain surveys in Malton or CCTV drain surveys in Pocklington. A page on CCTV drain surveys in Easingwold covers that town too.
To ask for a survey, send a request through the request form. It is open 24/7. Mark it urgent only if sewage is coming up.
Frequently asked questions
Does a homebuyer survey cover the drains?
A surveyor reports on what they can see and reach, while drains are underground. Ask what the report says about drainage. If it says little, a camera check fills the gap.
Can the seller refuse access?
The seller needs to agree to a visit. Ask your solicitor to request access early, because a delay can leave you short of time before exchange.
What if the survey finds a fault?
You can ask for a lower price, ask the seller to repair it, walk away or go ahead and budget for the work. A written quote for the repair helps you choose.
Should I keep the video?
Yes, ask for it. The video shows exactly what the engineer saw. As a result, your solicitor or a repair engineer can check the findings for themselves.
