Why look below ground?
A viewing tells you a lot about a house, but very little about the condition of its underground drains. A specialist CCTV inspection can provide evidence of visible pipe defects, root ingress or restrictions that deserve attention before purchase.
A homebuyer drain survey is different from a general building survey. Tell your surveyor or solicitor what you are arranging, and use the drainage findings alongside their advice. It is not a guarantee that every hidden defect will be found.
Arrange access before the visit
Ask the seller or agent for permission and access to the property, gardens and known inspection chambers. Share any previous drainage reports, extension plans or history of blockages.
Buried chambers, locked areas, heavy deposits and obstructions can limit coverage. Agree whether investigation or cleaning is included in the quotation rather than assuming the camera will reach every pipe.
Read the limitations as well as the findings
Prime’s report format records accessible sections, a drainage layout, CCTV photographs, observations and engineer notes. Our anonymised sample shows how the information is presented; it is an example, not a promise of a fixed page count.
Check which runs were inspected, which could not be reached and whether further investigation is recommended. A clear section does not prove an inaccessible branch is also clear.
If the report identifies a defect
Ask what the defect means, where it is and which repair options are appropriate. A local defect may suit patch lining, while other conditions can require excavation or further checks.
Give the report to your surveyor or solicitor if it affects your purchase questions. Prime can discuss repair scope where appropriate, but negotiations and decisions about the purchase remain yours.
View Prime’s anonymised sample homebuyer survey report →
See how findings and limitations are recorded in our explained homebuyer survey example.
