WRc-coded CCTV Drain Surveys & Diagnostics
See exactly what's in your pipes — without lifting a slab. Same-day reports with video, plan, defect log and a costed repair quote that insurers, lenders and solicitors accept first time.
A camera in the pipe — and the report to act on it
A CCTV drain survey feeds a high-resolution camera down your drainage system to record exactly what's going on underground. No excavation, no guesswork — just live video, on-screen with you, plus a written report you can hand to your insurer, solicitor or surveyor.
We run surveys to WRc MSCC5 — the UK industry coding standard. That's what mortgage lenders, water companies and loss adjusters expect to see. Bare-bones MP4 footage isn't enough for a claim or a Section 104 adoption.
Identify & resolve drainage issues — without digging
- Pinpoint the exact cause of blockages or damage
- Avoid unnecessary excavation and disruption
- Save time and money with precise diagnosis
- Support compliance with UK drainage regulations
- Protect your property from flooding and structural damage
- Suitable for domestic, commercial and industrial pipework
Six reasons people book a CCTV survey
Homebuyer / pre-purchase
Know what you're buying before you exchange. Surveyors miss drains — we don't.
Insurance claims
WRc-coded evidence that loss adjusters accept first time. Direct billing on most insurers.
Recurring blockages
If it keeps blocking, something's wrong. We find the cause, not just clear the symptom.
Pre-adoption (S104)
Adoption-ready surveys to water company spec — Yorkshire Water, Severn Trent, United Utilities.
Post-jetting verification
Proof the line is clear after a high-pressure jet — and a baseline for the next inspection.
New-build sign-off
Air-test and CCTV records for handover, NHBC and warranty packs.
What's in every CCTV report
- WRc MSCC5 coded defect log with chainage references
- Full MP4 video recording of every line surveyed
- Still images of every defect and key feature
- Hand-drawn or CAD plan showing pipe runs and access points
- Repair recommendations with realistic budget figures
- Insurer / mortgage-lender / solicitor ready PDF — accepted first time
The right camera for every pipe
Push-rod cameras
40–150mm pipework — sinks, basins, gulley runs and short residential laterals.
Crawler cameras
150–600mm+ commercial and adoption mains, pan-tilt heads, lit and rated for surcharged lines.
Sonde location & mapping
We trace the camera head from the surface to mark pipe runs on your plan — no guessing.
Confined-access rigs
Reverse-entry, manhole drop, satellite cameras for branches off the main run.
Fully portable — surveys anywhere, on any street
Our CCTV rigs aren't tied to a van. The full setup — MiniCam ProTeus controller, 120m reel, sonde-equipped camera head and battery pack — wheels straight to the chamber. That means we can survey driveways, narrow estates, courtyards, basements and pedestrianised areas where bigger jet-vac trucks simply can't reach.
- Chapter 8 compliant
Red barriers, cones and signage on every job — safe to work on live carriageway.
- Sonde-traced runs
Locate the camera head from the surface to mark pipe route, depth and chambers.
- Tight-access ready
Footprint under 2m — fits gated estates, side passages and basement plant rooms.
- Live HD recording
MiniCam ProTeus records to USB on site — no cloud upload wait, walk away with the file.
Domestic, commercial & insurance surveys
Domestic
Homebuyers, sellers, recurring blockages and insurance claims. Clean engineers, shoes off, tidy access — no mess.
Commercial
Pre-acquisition due diligence, planned maintenance surveys, after-jetting verification and statutory compliance for managing agents.
Insurance & legal
Loss adjuster work, party-wall disputes, subsidence investigations and Section 59 evidence packs.
Where we run CCTV surveys
What CCTV surveys have caught
Pre-purchase · 4-bed Leeds
Survey found a fractured clay joint under the drive. Buyer renegotiated £6,800 off the asking price — survey cost £240.
Insurance · Sheffield basement
WRc report identified root ingress at 4.8m. Insurer authorised a patch liner inside 72 hours of submission.
Pre-adoption · Wakefield site
Five plot laterals plus the main spine surveyed to Yorkshire Water spec. Adoption approved first submission, no remedial works.
CCTV drain survey FAQs
- How much is a CCTV drain survey?
- A standard domestic CCTV survey starts at £180–£240 including the WRc-coded report and video. Commercial and pre-adoption surveys are priced on the line length and access — quoted on the phone before we book.
- How long does a survey take?
- Most domestic surveys are done in 60–90 minutes on site. The video and PDF report normally land in your inbox the same working day.
- What is a WRc-coded report?
- WRc MSCC5 is the UK industry standard for classifying drain defects. Insurers, water companies and mortgage lenders expect WRc coding — coloured photos and an MP4 alone aren't enough for a claim.
- Will my mortgage lender accept it?
- Yes. Our reports are formatted to the standard that high-street lenders, surveyors and solicitors require for residential conveyancing and specialist commercial lending.
- Do I need a survey before buying a house?
- If the property is more than 25 years old, has trees nearby, or has had any drainage history, yes. A £200 survey routinely saves five-figure post-completion repair bills.
- Can you survey a blocked drain?
- Yes — we'll jet it clear first if needed, then run the camera to find what caused the blockage so it doesn't keep happening. Often one visit, one invoice.
- Will you have to dig anything up?
- No. CCTV is the whole point — it diagnoses the line without excavation. If repairs are needed afterwards, most are no-dig (patch lining, full relining or cured-in-place).
- Do you map the drain run?
- Yes. We trace the camera head with a sonde locator and mark the run on your site plan — pipe route, depths and chamber positions.
- Will my insurer accept your report?
- We work direct with Aviva, AXA, Direct Line, NFU, Hiscox, Zurich and most major UK insurers. Our reports are designed to be paid first time, not bounced for missing detail.
- Can you survey from one access point?
- Most surveys run from a single manhole or rodding eye in two directions. If the line has no access, we'll dig a small inspection point — quoted before any spades come out.
- Do I get the video file?
- Yes — the full MP4 video, the WRc PDF and all stills, on a download link that doesn't expire. You own the data; we keep a copy for our records.
- What happens if you find a serious defect?
- You get a written, costed repair quote alongside the survey — patch liner, full reline, excavation or pump replacement. No pressure, no commission, no upsell.