What should a CCTV drain survey report include?

No. A camera inspection is the work on site. The report, video files and drain plan are what you may receive afterwards. Firms package these differently, so get the inclusions in writing.

Aspect (opens in a new tab), for example, lists an inspection with a report available on request and a separate, higher-priced mapping service. Compare prices and report options rather than just the package name.

1. The inspection details. The date, the pipes inspected and the access points used.
2. The findings. Clear descriptions of what the contractor saw and where it was found.
3. Photographs and video. Ask for files you can keep and match to the written findings.
4. Areas not inspected. A record of blocked, inaccessible or uninspected sections.
5. A drain plan, if needed. Confirm whether mapping is included and how accurately locations are recorded.
6. Next steps. An explanation of any further checks or work the contractor recommends.

This is a buying checklist, not an industry reporting standard. Agree the items you actually need.

Start with the plan and inspection limits

Find the starting chamber for each run, then match the written finding to its photograph or video position. If you cannot tell which pipe is affected, ask for a marked plan or a clearer location reference.

Ask what the severity means for this pipe

A code or a word such as “severe” is not a repair specification. Ask the contractor to explain the defect, the consequence of leaving it, how urgent the work is and what supports that judgement. Do not assume a grade in one firm’s report means the same as a house-survey condition rating.

Treat “not inspected” as an unanswered question

Ask why the camera stopped, what remains unknown and what another visit would involve. A pipe hidden by water, a blockage or inaccessible covers has not been shown to be sound.

Get another opinion before a substantial repair

If the explanation or repair quote is unclear, ask another suitably experienced contractor to review the findings and quote for the same work. For a purchase, involve the surveyor or solicitor who requested the report. RICS’s guidance on further investigations and repair quotes (opens in a new tab) explains why the findings should be reviewed before a purchase decision.

Compare lining, patch repairs and replacement questions.

A blockage, poor visibility or an inaccessible cover can limit an inspection. Ask how this will be recorded and what you would pay for a partial survey.

Agree the price and permission for any clearance or extra work separately. A camera visit should not give open-ended permission to carry out repairs.

Ask the person who needs it. Only they can confirm whether the proposed format will answer their question. If condition coding is requested, this means a standard way of recording defects; ask the contractor which system they use.

A general house survey (opens in a new tab) has its own inspection limits and is not a substitute for a separately requested CCTV report.

• Can I see a sample report with the customer’s details removed?
• Will the price include the report, video, photographs and any required plan?
• How will you identify where each finding was recorded?
• How will you record areas you could not inspect?
• When will I receive everything?

Agree who can give access and who needs to receive the findings. Tell the contractor which buildings and pipe runs need checking, and share any existing plans. Ask the report recipient whether they need mapping, particular file formats or a condition-coding system.

Keep the inspection and any repair authorisation separate. We do not assess a landlord’s legal duties or a commercial site’s compliance from an online checklist.