Homebuyer's & Pre-Purchase Drain Surveys
Pre-purchase CCTV drain surveys with an MSCC5-coded report, defect log and fixed repair prices - the drainage answer your building survey leaves out.
A building survey stops at ground level. The drains - the one part of the property that is expensive to reach, easy to damage and invisible from above - are almost always excluded, usually with a single line recommending a specialist inspection. A homebuyer's drain survey is that inspection: a full CCTV examination of the property's drainage, done before you exchange, so you know what you are buying.
We survey every accessible run with an HD camera, trace and map the layout, and code what we find to MSCC5 - the same WRc standard water companies and insurers work to. You receive the recorded footage, a defect log graded for severity, a drainage layout plan, and fixed prices for any repairs that are genuinely needed. If nothing is wrong, the report says so plainly - most surveys find drains that just need a clean.
What the survey protects you from
- Inherited repair bills: a collapsed or root-damaged drain found after completion is your cost; found before exchange, it is a negotiating point backed by written prices.
- Misconnections and shared drains: we identify what actually drains where, including connections a seller may not know about.
- Pitch fibre and aged pipework: mid-century pitch fibre and Victorian clay both fail in predictable ways; the survey tells you whether that is happening yet.
- Mortgage and insurance conditions: the MSCC5-coded report is in the format lenders, insurers and solicitors expect to see.
How it works
- Book around your purchase: we work to conveyancing timescales and can usually survey within days, with the seller's permission arranged through the agent.
- Survey and mapping: every accessible chamber lifted, every run camera-surveyed and traced, the layout drawn.
- Report within two working days: footage, coded defect log, plan, and a plain-English summary you can forward to your solicitor as-is.
The survey itself is the same discipline we bring to every CCTV drain survey. If the property shows cracking or movement, pair it with a subsidence drain survey - leaking drains are one of the most common causes.
Buying in Surrey or Hampshire?
Call Clever Works on 01252 917235 or get a fixed quote online - tell us the postcode and completion date and we will work to it.
Need Expert Assistance?
At Clever Works, we provide comprehensive drainage solutions with transparent pricing and no hidden fees. Get in touch today for a free, no-obligation quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a drain survey necessary when buying a house?
It is not legally required, but a standard building survey excludes drains, and drainage repairs are among the most expensive defects a buyer can inherit. Lenders and solicitors routinely recommend one, particularly for older properties and anything with mature trees nearby.
Can I use the survey to renegotiate the price?
Yes. The report includes fixed repair prices for any defects found, which gives you a documented figure to negotiate with - or to ask the seller to fix before completion.
What exactly do I receive?
Recorded footage of every surveyed run, an MSCC5-coded defect log, a drainage layout plan, a plain-English summary for your solicitor, and fixed prices for any recommended work.
How quickly can you turn it around?
We book surveys to conveyancing timescales - typically within a few days - and issue the report within two working days of the visit.