DSCDrainSurveyCost.co.uk

Drain survey prices, reports and quotes, explained

Before you book a CCTV drain survey

See what firms charge, what the report should include and what to ask for. Then send the same request to two or three firms and compare their replies.

Get my checklist and quote requestCompare quotes I already have

Free to use. No contact details needed for your result.

Under the garden

Which pipe is being checked?

A camera inspection and a typical drain layoutTwo houses connect to a public sewer. A solid green pipe serves only the left house within its boundary. Beyond that boundary, a dashed blue lateral joins the neighbour’s drain and the shared sewer. Circles mark inspection chambers. The camera is inserted through the left chamber into accessible pipes. This is a simplified England and Wales example, not an ownership decision for a property.Your homeNeighbourBoundaryPublic sewerCamera
  • One home, inside its boundary: usually the owner’s drain.
  • Beyond the boundary or shared: usually the sewerage company’s pipe, if connected to the public sewer.
  • Inspection chamber: the contractor inserts the camera here to inspect accessible pipes.
Illustration for England and Wales. Exceptions apply; it is not a plan of your property. Rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Check responsibility before paying for work. Sources: CCW and Thames Water.

Before you ask for quotes

What do you need
the survey to tell you?

Buying a home, checking a problem or planning work? The report you ask for matters as much as the price.

Your answers become a message you can copy or print and send to any contractor.

Get your survey checklist

Seven short questions. No contact details needed. Choose “Not sure” when you need to.

Answers stay in this tab, including after a refresh. Start again clears them.

Price examples

What does a drain survey cost?

Published starting-price examples include £139 + VAT (£166.80 with 20% VAT) for a London CCTV survey and £315 + VAT (£378 with 20% VAT) for a survey with mapping. Checked 7 September 2026; these are examples, not a UK average. Compare the work included.

CCTV drain survey

From £139 + VAT (£166.80 including 20% VAT)

Inspection and written report. Ask whether your price includes a copy of the footage.

London. Starting price. Confirm the pipes covered, access, travel and any mapping charges.

Drain365 ↗
Checked 7 September 2026

Mapping / homebuyer work

From £315 + VAT (£378.00 including 20% VAT)

Up to four inspection covers, a report and a map showing how the drains connect.

Greater London and South East England. Extra access points cost from £67.50 + VAT (£81.00 including 20% VAT) each. Confirm any cleaning or clearance charges.

Aspect ↗
Checked 7 September 2026

Homebuyer survey

From £249 + VAT (£298.80 including 20% VAT)

Starting price for a two-bedroom home. Includes a report, video, photographs and an annotated drain map.

Cheshire, Staffordshire and Greater Manchester. Larger or more complex properties cost more. Clearance, jetting and repairs are extra unless agreed.

Clearflow Surveys ↗
Checked 7 September 2026

Compare prices and what’s included →

Before you book

Know what to ask for

Buying a home?

Find out whether your house survey covers the drains and when a separate inspection may help.

Homebuyer guide →

Comparing quotes?

Put two or three quotes side by side. See the full price and the questions still to ask.

Compare your quotes →

Need a written report?

Use the checklist to ask for clear findings, locations and inspection limits.

Report checklist →
A rectangular drain inspection cover set into a lawn
An inspection cover in a garden. A contractor needs safe access to inspect the pipes below. Photo: Gerald England.

Check access before the visit

Can the contractor reach the drains?

Let the contractor know where the inspection covers are, and whether they are covered, stuck or on someone else’s land. Ask what you would pay if the inspection cannot be completed. Leave lifting covers to the contractor.

What to look for in a report →

How this website works

Free guidance.
Your choice of contractor.

Blue Canvas runs this website. We explain prices and help you prepare for a survey. We do not carry out inspections or take bookings.

How we check our sources
  1. Answer a few questions

    Tell us why you’re considering a survey. No name, email or address needed.

  2. Send the same request to each firm

    Copy the message made from your answers. Add the property location and dates when you send it.

  3. Compare the replies

    Check prices and missing details in the quote comparison tool. Use the follow-up questions before you book.