CCTV drain survey cost — what to expect in the UK

A CCTV drain survey is a camera on the end of a flexible cable — for most residential runs, on a self-driving crawler for larger diameters — that we feed into the drain through an existing access point, usually a manhole or inspection chamber. As the camera travels through, we watch the footage live on a monitor and record it. Nothing gets dug up, nothing gets damaged, and by the end we've got a full video record of every metre of pipework surveyed, along with photos of anything we found.

It's the only way to actually see inside a drain without excavating. Everything else — how fast water drains, whether smells come and go, whether blockages recur — is guesswork by comparison. The camera shows you what's there.

For a house purchase. Standard homebuyer surveys don't inspect drainage — they can't, without a camera. A pre-purchase CCTV survey tells you whether the pipes under the property you're about to spend hundreds of thousands on are sound, or whether there's a hidden repair bill waiting for you. On an older property, it's one of the highest-value checks you can do before exchange — findings can be used to renegotiate the price or ask the seller to remedy issues first.

For an insurance claim. Insurers usually require CCTV evidence before authorising drainage repair work under buildings cover. The survey report, footage and defect log go to the insurer as part of the claim — a proper report is what turns a suspected problem into an approved payment.

For a recurring blockage. If a drain keeps blocking despite being cleared, something structural is happening. The survey identifies what — roots, a displaced joint, a partial collapse, a fat coating — and lets us quote for the right fix rather than repeatedly clearing the symptom.

Several things move the number up or down, and any honest quote will factor them in:

How much pipe is being surveyed. A single kitchen run is a different job to surveying an entire property's drain system across multiple manholes.

Whether the drains are accessible. If we can get straight in through an existing manhole, we're on-site working within minutes. If access is buried under decking, blocked by an appliance, or the chamber lid is seized shut, that adds time before we can even start.

The pipe diameter and complexity. Standard residential 100mm runs are the most common. Larger diameter pipework, deep manholes or long shared sewer runs need different crawler kit and take longer to survey properly.

What the report needs to be used for. A quick diagnostic to identify a blockage cause is one thing. A full report formatted for an insurance claim, a mortgage lender, or a local authority adoption submission takes longer to compile and includes more detail.

Whether it's part of another visit. Our first-hour fixed visit is £300 and includes a CCTV camera check within that first hour where one is needed — so if we're clearing a blockage and the camera check is part of diagnosing it, that's covered in the visit price, not a separate fee tacked on. Standalone surveys are quoted transparently before we come out — you'll know the exact cost before booking.

Not all reports are equal. What you should get back:

The full video footage of every pipe section surveyed — not just the bits with problems. That gives you (or your solicitor, insurer or buyer) proof of the condition of the whole system, not a selective view.

Still photos of any defects found, with clear captions explaining what's shown.

A written description of each defect, its location within the drain run, and the recommended remedial action if any is needed. For insurance and adoption work, defects are usually coded using industry-standard codes so the report is unambiguous.

A summary of the drainage layout — which chambers connect to what, and where the flow goes. This alone is often useful information for older properties where the layout has never been recorded.

A clear, no-pressure quote for any recommended repair work, given separately after the survey is complete. You should never be asked to sign off on repairs before seeing the footage of what's wrong.

Ask what's included in the price. If the answer is vague, it's usually because the answer is 'we'll see when we get there'. A proper quote covers the survey, the report and the footage in a stated fixed price.

Ask whether you get the footage. You should. If a company won't give you the video, ask why — it's your property and it's evidence of its condition.

For a pre-purchase survey, ask whether the report is formatted for solicitors and mortgage lenders. Not every report is written to be usable by a third party, and one that isn't can leave you having to pay for a second survey later.

For an insurance claim, check with your insurer what format they require the report in before booking — a small formatting requirement at their end can save a lot of back-and-forth.