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Are you considering buying a new home? Well, it’s always good to go through the property’s drainage infrastructures before you invest in it. 

Property buyer drainage surveys have recently been one of the most popular things that people in the United Kingdom look for when purchasing their dream home.

A drain survey is an in-depth examination of the drainage system— the subsurface pipelines that carry water and waste out. It has proven to be a great tool to identify any underlying problems with a building’s piping, drains, infestations, or foundation, namely –

1. Cracked, fractured, leaky, or defective pipes
2. Blockages and backed-up sewage
3. Tree root intrusions in the piping system
4. collapses if any in the underground pipe network

In certain circumstances, mortgage lenders and insurance companies will request a drain before sanctioning the loan, and that’s where a drainage survey can assist you in a hassle-free home purchase.

Let’s understand more about home buyer drainage surveys, including aspects they cover and why having professional assistance can be a wise option.

What Is a Drainage Report?

A pre-buying drain report is a comprehensive document that tells you about the conditions of your drainage systems. It includes –

1. Disclosure of Structural Conditions
2. Findings of clogged or blocked pipes and drains
3. Identifying and addressing misconnections
4. Drainage system Mapping shows the positions and parts of the drainage network.
5. Tree root incursions
6. Identifying necessary fixes, protecting the buyers from inheriting any complications
7. Pitch fibre pipes
8. Rodents / Rat Infestation Detection

Perks Of Getting Home Buyers Drain Survey

As you now have an idea of what is a drainage report and what to expect from it, let’s look at how it can benefit you as a buyer of a new property.

• Avoid Leaks and Flooding

Moving into a new home is stressful enough, without the thought of leaks and flooding. However, if you don’t have a homebuyer’s drain survey, you increase the risk of drainage problems. When you’re unfamiliar with a property’s drainage system, it’s easy for things to go wrong. If pipes are damaged, cracked or structurally impaired, the likelihood of something going wrong increases even more.

Rather than dealing with sudden emergencies, property damage and costly repairs, why not arrange a homebuyer’s drain survey in advance? This will give you an idea of whether anything is likely to go wrong in the near future. If it is, you’ll have the chance to take preventative action.

• Negotiating power

When purchasing a property, it’s not uncommon for buyers to make an offer that’s lower than the asking price. In fact, this practice is so typical that most sellers expect to negotiate. If your homebuyer’s drain survey indicates that work is required, you can use this information when negotiating a final sale price.

If the repair work that’s needed is likely to cost around £3,000, for example, you could reduce your offer by this amount to reflect the cost of the work. While there’s no guarantee that the seller will accept an offer lower than their asking price, having verifiable information provided by professionals increases your negotiating power.

• Quick analysis of the problem

Drainage surveys are often conducted using CCTV cameras that give you a clear view of the entire system. When installed in a drainage pipe, it allows you to view the underlying issues in real time. 

Consider what would happen if rats were to cause difficulties with your drainage system or if there was an underground leakage. Without a camera, how long would it take to identify these issues? Can a plumber identify these cracks from the naked eye? Well, it’s a near-impossible effort. 

On the other hand, a drain survey will identify the exact cause and the location where the issue exists. Thus, you can now intimate the seller to fix the problem before making the purchase.

• Save expensive repairs

If you choose a simple DIY drain inspection, you may miss out on several substantial issues on the drainage systems. This way, you risk purchasing a new home to realise that it requires extensive improvements.

In many cases, homeowners do not have immediate access to additional funds after acquiring a home. Unfortunately, if the needed upgrades are urgent, you may need to apply for mortgages or loans to pay for the house improvements you were unaware of. 

• Secure your mortgage

Virtually all mortgage companies will insist that buyers have a property survey carried out before agreeing to lend you funds. However, mortgage firms are becoming more cautious, which means the criteria for obtaining a mortgage is getting stricter. As a result, many companies now require buyers to conduct a CCTV drain survey

Similarly, insurance companies are upping their requirements for building and contents insurance policies. If you haven’t had a homebuyer’s drain survey carried out, you might find it difficult to obtain insurance. Alternatively, you may be forced to pay higher premiums to insure your new home and your belongings.

That’s why it’s best to seek a detailed CCTV inspection by certified drainage survey experts and save yourself from expensive repairs that you might have to incur later on.

Does My Property Need A Drainage Survey?

There might be signs that you need a drainage assessment in your current house. Here are some of them:

1. Back-up of water
2. Drains have bubbles surrounding them.
3. Drains clogged
4. Toilets aren’t flushing properly.
5. Corrosion
6. Infestation with animals

However, if you’re looking for a new property to renovate, a drainage assessment should be included in your search for peace of mind. A standard homebuyer’s inspection does not include a property’s drainage, and given the possibility of the aforementioned pre-existing concerns, hiring a drainage survey might save you money on costly repairs later on. 

If any issues are discovered, you may be able to utilise this information to negotiate a property price.

Homebuyer Drainage Survey Cost

Drain surveying jobs are often charged by the hour by drainage specialists and experts. An average professional drainage company like the FS Drainage services charges around £40 every hour, moving up to £75 (excluding VAT) for standard unblocking services. 

Adding to it, regular homes generally require two to three hours to turbo clean and assess if performed by a skilled licensed surveyor/technician; the drainage survey cost for a property depends on the type of services available. 

So be wary of companies that promise drastically reduced pricing.

Access Services Of Our Engineers Today!

When it comes to domestic drain surveys, the concerns are typically more confusing. While you might wish to go for DIY approaches, hiring a trusted drainage contractor like FS Drainage can help you automate the entire process. 

At FS Drainage, we realise how stressful it may be to buy or sell a home. It is precisely why we are prepared to do homebuyer drain surveys wherever and whenever you want them. We work with 2 hour response time and will be there with you in case of emergencies.

Reach out to our FS Drainage engineers now by calling on 0800 689 3497 or email us at info@fsdrainage.com