Should I Get the Drains Checked When Buying a House?

Drains are one of the most expensive things to put right in a house, and one of the least likely to be checked before you buy. A broken drain under a drive or extension can cost thousands to repair, and once you own the house it’s your problem.

Doesn’t my survey cover the drains?

Not really. A standard homebuyer survey looks at what the surveyor can see. They may lift an inspection chamber cover and run a tap, but they won’t put a camera down the drains. If they spot something they’re concerned about, they’ll usually recommend “further investigation”, which means a CCTV inspection.

When it’s worth checking the drains

• The house is older, especially pre-1970s, with clay drain pipes.
• There are mature trees near the house or the drain runs.
• There’s an extension, conservatory or garage built over or near a drain.
• The surveyor recommended further investigation of the drains.
• You notice smells, slow drainage, gurgling or damp at the viewing.
• The ground or paving has sunk along the line of a drain.
• The house has been empty for a while, so problems might not have shown up yet.

What an inspection tells you

We put a camera through the drains we can reach from the inspection chambers and you can watch with us. We look for blockages, cracks, root ingress, displaced joints and collapses, and we mark the position of any fault on the ground. You get a clear picture of the drains before you commit, and it can help you negotiate a lower price if repairs are needed.

Inspection or formal survey?

If your lender or solicitor has asked for a drainage survey report, you need a drainage survey company. They’ll produce a formal, coded written report that others can rely on. We don’t produce those.

If you just want to know whether the drains have any problems before you buy, an inspection is usually all you need. Here’s the difference in more detail.

You’ll need the seller’s permission

We can only inspect a property with the owner’s agreement. Ask the estate agent to arrange access, and make sure someone can let us in and that we can get to the inspection chamber covers. Please also keep a parking space free for our small vehicle.

Probate sales need a little more planning. If the house is still full of the last owner’s belongings, the covers can end up hidden under boxes in the garage or years of garden clutter. When the executors are arranging a house clearance anyway, ask whether it can be done before the inspection, so we can reach every chamber.

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Questions