CCTV Drain Surveys
A CCTV drain survey sends a camera through the pipes to show exactly what's happening underground, without digging up the garden. It's the quickest way to find a blockage, a crack or root damage, and a sensible step before buying a rural property.
- Assessment before any recommendation
- Written quote that says what's included
- Building Regulations and permits explained
- Ground put back as agreed
On this page
How it works
How a CCTV drain survey works
A waterproof camera on a flexible rod is pushed through the pipework from an inspection chamber, rodding point or the tank itself. The footage shows the inside of each pipe run: joints, bends, cracks, roots, displaced sections, collapses and anything sitting in the pipe. Distances are recorded so any defect can be found from the surface.
If a pipe is blocked, it may need clearing before the camera can see past the blockage.
When it helps
When a camera survey is worth it
A CCTV survey looks at the pipes. To check the tank and the drainage field as well, combine it with a septic tank and drainage survey.
The report
What you get afterwards
You get a written report that says what was found, where it is, and what it means in plain English, with stills from the footage. Where a repair is needed, the report explains the options, from local repairs to relining or replacing a section of pipe.
Cost
What affects the price
Every survey is priced to the property. These are the things that move the figure.
Who it's for
CCTV Drain Surveys for homes and businesses
For homes
Farmhouses, cottages, barn conversions and new rural homes. We look at how many people the system serves, the ground and the access, then explain the options in plain English.
For farms and businesses
Holiday lets, farm cottages and rural businesses often need bigger or busier systems, and volume limits matter. Farms and businesses
Planning
Planning your project
Scope
What the system serves, what's there now, and what needs to change.
Access
Room for machinery or a tanker, gateways, slopes and soft ground.
Approvals
Building Regulations, any permit, and planning where it applies.
Aftercare
Emptying, servicing and the paperwork you'll need if you sell.
Not sure which service you need?
Tell us what you've noticed. Photos of the access covers or the area around the system help if you have them, but they're optional. We'll tell you what's worth looking at first.
Questions
CCTV Drain Surveys questions
What does a CCTV drain survey show?
The inside of the pipes: cracks, root intrusion, displaced joints, collapses, blockages and build-up, with the distance to each defect so it can be found from the surface.
Do I need a CCTV drain survey when buying a house with a septic tank?
It's a sensible step, especially for older properties. A standard homebuyer survey doesn't look inside the drains, and repairs to private drainage become the new owner's responsibility.
How long does a CCTV drain survey take?
Most domestic surveys take a few hours on site, depending on how many pipe runs there are and whether anything needs clearing first.
How much does a CCTV drain survey cost?
It depends on the length of pipework, access and the type of report. Our guide explains the factors. See "How much does a drain survey cost?" on the blog.
Want a clear answer for your property?
Tell us what's happening and roughly where you are. No need to know what type of system you have.