How Much Does a CCTV Drain Survey Cost?

A CCTV drain survey in the UK typically costs £90 to £500, with an average of about £250 for a standard house, according to MyJobQuote's drain survey price guide (updated 25 August 2026). Our CCTV drain survey starts from £149 + VAT and includes condition grading coded to WRc's MSCC5 standard, a PDF condition report, the recorded footage and stills of each defect, and a map of the drain runs.

The rest of this guide sets out the national market prices by survey type, what should be included at each price, what pushes the cost up or down, and how to tell whether a cheap survey is really good value.

How much does a drain survey cost in the UK?

Most domestic drain surveys cost between £90 and £500. The figures below come from MyJobQuote's drain survey cost guide. They are national market prices from other firms, not our prices, and the guide does not state whether VAT is included.

MyJobQuote also lists common extras: £100 to £150 for cleaning or jetting before the survey and £100 to £300 where access has to be dug out. It notes that prices in London and the South East run above the national average.

How much does a CCTV drain survey cost with us?

Our CCTV drain surveys start from £149 + VAT. That starting price covers the survey and the full report pack, not just a look down the pipe:

• MSCC5-coded condition grading for every defect, using the WRc Manual of Sewer Condition Classification.
• A PDF condition report, produced in WinCan, with plain-English repair recommendations.
• The recorded footage and stills of each defect, so you can get a second opinion.
• Drain mapping: a plan of the runs, chambers, depths and flow direction.

The final price depends on the number of runs, access and whether the drain needs jetting first. Larger and commercial surveys are quoted individually. We confirm the price before we start. We survey across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, including CCTV drain surveys in Derby and CCTV drain surveys in Leicester.

What affects the cost of a drain survey?

Time on site is the main driver, and these seven factors decide it:

The most common hidden extra is cleaning. A camera cannot grade a pipe it cannot see, so a greasy or silted drain has to be jetted first. That adds cost, but it is what makes the report reliable.

What should a drain survey include for the money?

A useful survey includes a coded written report, the footage and a plan of the drains. Before comparing prices, run through this checklist with each company:

WRc says its Drain Repair Book, produced with the Association of British Insurers' Property Claims Working Group, "is widely used by both insurers and drain repairers". A report that follows the recognised coding is far easier for an insurer or loss adjuster to act on. Our guide to reading a CCTV drain survey report explains the codes and grades line by line.

Is a cheap drain survey good value?

Sometimes. If you only need to know where a single blockage is, a basic camera inspection at the lower end of the market can be enough. It is poor value if you need evidence for someone else.

A buyer's solicitor, an insurer or a water company handling a build-over application will want a written, coded report with images and distances. The Financial Ombudsman Service says a proper drainage investigation should record the pipe's condition with a diagram, list the problems and where they are, and identify the pipe material. A cheap survey that skips those items may have to be repeated.

Is a drain survey cheaper than guessing?

Almost always. A survey tells the engineer exactly where the defect is and how long it is, so only the damaged length is repaired. Without one, a contractor may excavate in the wrong place or reline a pipe that needed replacing.

For scale, MyJobQuote's drain repair guide (updated 27 August 2026) puts excavation and replacement at £250 to £650 per metre, relining at £80 to £150 per metre and a fully collapsed drain at £1,000 to £3,000 or more. Our drain repairs start from £250 + VAT, quoted from the survey footage. The guide to drain relining vs excavation explains how the survey decides the method.

When do you need a CCTV drain survey?

You need one when the cause of a drain problem is hidden underground or someone else needs evidence. The common triggers are:

• A drain that keeps blocking. Repeat blockages usually point to a crack, displaced joint, dip or root intrusion.
• Buying a house. A standard survey rarely looks inside the pipes. See drain surveys when buying a house or book a homebuyer drain survey.
• Building near a drain. Approved Document H covers building work within 3 metres of a sewer or drain shown on the sewer records, and water companies often ask for survey evidence.
• An insurance claim. Insurers want to see the defect, its position and the pipe material.
• Smells, damp patches, sunken ground or rats that suggest a broken pipe. See the signs of a blocked or collapsed drain.

Who pays if the problem is in the public sewer?

The water company, not you. Severn Trent's sewer responsibility guide says it is responsible for pipes shared with neighbours and pipes outside the property boundary that connect to the network; a homeowner is responsible for pipes within the boundary that serve only their house. A survey shows where each defect sits, so if we find the problem in a shared pipe or public sewer we tell you, and you can report it. Our guide to who is responsible for blocked drains covers the split in detail.

How can you keep the cost of a survey down?

A little preparation shortens the visit:

• Find the covers and clear bins, pots or cars off them before the engineer arrives.
• Tell us the history: recurring blockages, smells, damp patches or recent building work.
• Say what the report is for, so it covers the runs a buyer, insurer or water company needs.
• Keep water use down during the survey, because running baths and washing machines floods the camera's view.

When to call a professional

Book a survey if a drain keeps blocking, if you have been quoted for an expensive repair without seeing any footage, or if you are buying a property or planning an extension near a drain. Our CCTV drain surveys start from £149 + VAT, and the final price depends on the number of runs, access and whether cleaning is needed. If the camera finds a defect, we quote the repair separately so you can decide in your own time.

We cover Nottingham and the wider East Midlands 7 days a week from 6am to 8pm, with emergency call-outs 365 days a year. Call 07300 600 950 or book online.

Sources

• MyJobQuote: drain survey cost guide (updated 25 August 2026)
• MyJobQuote: cost to repair a drain line breakage (updated 27 August 2026)
• WRc: Manual of Sewer Condition Classification, 5th edition
• WRc: The Drain Repair Book, 4th edition
• Financial Ombudsman Service: home insurance and damage to underground pipes
• Severn Trent: sewer responsibility card
• gov.uk: Approved Document H, drainage and waste disposal