The short answer

A CCTV drain survey has no single price because the cost depends on how long the pipe run is, how easy the access is and what kind of report you need. Anyone who quotes a fixed number without seeing the property is guessing. Either way, you should receive a recorded inspection that shows the condition of the drain. We look at the property first and agree a fixed price before work starts. You can ask through the online enquiry form.

What drives the price

A survey is not a flat-rate job, because four things change the cost:

Access. The camera and cable must reach the manholes and chambers along the run. Clear chambers make a short job. Buried or paved-over ones make a longer one.
Run length. A short branch from one property is a smaller task than a long run that serves several homes.
The report you need. A formal report for a build-over agreement or a house purchase takes more work than a simple look at a recurring blockage.
What the camera finds. A defect may need extra chambers or a longer run to follow. A clean pass with nothing to report is quicker.

You cannot price all of this accurately without knowing the property. That is why, since every property differs, we scope each survey first. Our CCTV drain survey service page explains how we handle it, and the guide to what a CCTV survey is covers the basics.

What you get from a survey

A proper survey is more than pushing a camera down a pipe and saying it looks fine, so you should expect three things:

A recorded inspection. You get a lasting visual record of the pipe, not just someone’s memory of it.
A written report. Many reports follow the WRc MSCC5 standard, which the UK uses to grade drain defects in a consistent way. Ask for the format you need before you book, because a lender or solicitor may want a particular one.
A clear location for each defect. The report usually measures from the nearest manhole, so a repair crew knows where to dig or where to run a liner.

A written report is useful long after survey day because other people will want it. A solicitor, a lender or a repair contractor may all want to see it. A verbal “it looks fine” gives them nothing to rely on. For more on how the camera works, see how CCTV drain inspections work and our article on what a CCTV drain survey involves.

When you need one

Four situations come up most often, although there are others:

Before you buy. A standard house survey does not cover the drains. A drain survey on an older property can save you from a costly surprise.
A blockage that keeps returning. Repeat blockages often have a structural cause, such as roots, a displaced joint or scale. Only a camera confirms it. Our guide to a blocked drain pipe, branch or main run helps you judge whether the problem is local or further down.
Sinking ground. A soft patch above a likely drain run may mean a damaged or collapsed section. Read about collapsed drain repair and the no-dig fix if you see this.
A build-over agreement. Thames Water asks for an agreement before you build over or near a public sewer. Survey evidence of the drain’s position and condition often supports the application. Check the current rules with Thames Water.

While you are weighing it up, our article on whether you need a CCTV drain survey lists the signs. For the broader picture of costs, how much it costs to unblock a drain sets out what affects the price of clearing as well. You may also want to know what a drain specialist does.

Older streets and typical faults

Much of North London’s older housing has clay drains. Clay pipes, for example, tend to show displaced joints and root intrusion. Newer plastic pipes fail in other ways. A survey shows which kind of fault you have, so the next step is the right one. Our article on what older clay drains need in Edgware shows one local example.

If the survey finds a plain blockage, however, see our complete guide to clearing a blocked drain. If the blockage sits outside your boundary, read who is responsible for blocked drains outside. We work across the area, so you can also read about drain unblocking in Enfield, blocked drains in Barnet and drain clearance in Southgate. Our blocked drains page covers the wider service.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a CCTV drain survey cost? It depends on access, run length and the report you need, so we cannot give an honest fixed figure without seeing the property. Send the online enquiry form and we will agree a price before the work starts.

Do I need a drain survey before buying a house? A standard house survey or mortgage valuation does not cover the drains, so a survey is worth considering on any older property. It shows the drain’s real condition before you commit.

What is the difference between a CCTV survey and just having someone look? A survey produces a recorded inspection and a written report, while a quick look gives you only an opinion. You cannot hand an opinion to a solicitor, a lender or a repair contractor.