Drainage rarely makes the list of things people check when viewing a property, but it’s one of the more expensive things to discover a problem with after you’ve moved in. Whether the property is on mains drainage or has its own septic tank, a few checks before completion can save a lot of hassle later.
If the property is on mains drainage
Ask the seller, or their conveyancer, whether there’s any history of blockages, flooding, or drainage work on the property. A drainage and water search, sometimes called a CON29DW, will show whether the property is connected to the public sewer and flag any known issues, but it won’t tell you the physical condition of the pipework itself.
For older properties in particular, it’s worth considering a CCTV drain survey before you complete. This is the only way to see the actual condition of the pipes, including root ingress, displacement, or the pitch fibre pipework common in properties built between the 1950s and 1970s, which is prone to deforming over time.
If the property has a septic tank
A septic tank adds another layer of things to check. You’ll want to know the tank’s age, when it was last emptied, whether it meets current regulations, and whether it’s been properly maintained. Our guides on drainage surveys for home buyers and our septic tank house sales guide both cover this in more detail.
Questions worth asking before you complete
- Has the property had any blocked drains, flooding or drainage repairs in the last few years
- Is the property on mains drainage or a septic tank, and if a tank, when was it last serviced
- Has a CCTV survey ever been carried out, and if so, can you see the report
- Are there any trees near the drain run that could cause root ingress
Why this is worth doing before, not after
A drainage survey typically costs far less than the repair bill for a problem discovered after you’ve moved in, and it gives you a genuine bargaining position if something is found before you complete.
If you’d like a survey arranged ahead of a purchase, call us on 0333 200 1623 and we can talk through what’s involved.