A pre-purchase drain survey sends a camera along the drains before you commit to a home. It shows cracks, roots, displaced joints, sagging sections and silt. You learn about hidden defects, because drains lie underground and out of sight.
Order the survey after the seller accepts your offer, and before you exchange contracts. That timing gives you room to act, since you can still ask for repairs or a lower price. The wider CCTV drain surveys page explains how a survey works.
Some buyers also need a drainage investigation if the survey flags a problem. That guide explains how the cause gets traced, since a survey alone may not name it.
Who owns which pipe affects the survey. Chelmsford City Council says Anglian Water handles sewers in the Chelmsford area, and that you are responsible for the drain that serves your property. Since 1 October 2011, many private sewers and lateral drains belong to the water company, according to the Defra private sewers transfer guidance.
Check this early, since it decides who pays for a repair on each section. If the home has an extension, ask whether the work built over a sewer. Approved Document H, the Building Regulations guide to drainage, covers building over sewers.
Brentwood Borough Council names both Anglian Water and Thames Water for its area. Your postcode decides which one serves the home, so check before you rely on either name. A drain survey shows the pipes, while the water company shows who owns them.
Give the address and a few facts about the drains through the request form. Ask for a written quote, since the price depends on the size of the property. Say if the home has an extension, a shared drain or an old outbuilding.
The seller or agent must allow access to the manholes and chambers. Ask the engineer which ones they need, since the camera enters there. Without access, parts of the drain stay unchecked.
The operator feeds a camera along each accessible pipe and records what it finds. The footage shows the condition of joints, bends and connections. The footage is your evidence if you need to negotiate.
Ask for a report with footage, a drain plan and a list of defects. Some reports use the MSCC5 grading scheme, so ask whether yours does. Keep a copy for your solicitor.
Use these questions to compare quotes, since the answers differ from one engineer to the next. Write the answers down, since a written note helps if the job changes. Then compare two quotes if the job looks large.
These are typical UK ranges from national guides, not Essex quotes. MyJobQuote lists pre-purchase surveys at £250 to £350. Survey Match lists a small property at £150 to £200, a two to three bed home at £200 to £350 and a large one at £350 to £500, all plus VAT.
The price covers the inspection and the report, so repairs cost extra. Ask for a written quote before work starts, and ask what the price includes. If the report shows defects, drain repairs explains the options.
Book it after your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That gives you time to negotiate or walk away while you still hold the choice. Ask the engineer how long the report takes.
Ask your solicitor before you book, since requirements differ. A clear report with footage, a drain plan and a defect list gives them something to use. The engineer who takes the job sets the format.
You can ask the seller to repair them, or ask for a lower price. You can also decide to walk away. Costs vary, so ask for repair quotes before you decide.
MSCC5 is a scheme for coding and grading drain defects. Not every report uses it, so ask whether yours does. A grading helps you compare one defect with another.