TL;DR
There’s no honest single figure for a CCTV drain survey, because the real cost drivers — access to the drain run, how much pipe needs inspecting, whether a blockage has to be cleared before the camera can pass, and whether you need a formal written report and drain map — vary from one property to the next. Rather than quote a number that won’t actually apply to your drain, get in touch online with a few details about the property and we’ll come back with a proper quote.
What actually changes the price
A handful of practical, site-specific factors decide what a CCTV drain survey costs, and none of them are the same from one Brighton property to the next.
Access to the drain. A manhole or inspection chamber that’s clear and easy to reach takes far less time than one buried under decking, a raised flower bed, or a locked side gate — common enough in Brighton and Hove’s converted terraces, where a rear access point can sit behind several other properties.
Length of the run being inspected. A short lateral serving one flat is a quicker job than a longer run, or one that needs tracing through several junctions and changes of direction.
Whether a blockage needs clearing first. If the camera can’t get past standing debris, roots or scale, a preliminary jet or rod is needed before the survey can actually happen, which adds time and equipment.
Whether you need a formal report. A basic video review is quicker to produce than a full written report with a defect log, severity grading and a drawn drain map — the kind of document a solicitor, mortgage lender or Southern Water will actually want to see.
Why we don’t quote a fixed figure online
Two houses on the same Brighton street can have completely different pipe material, depth, layout and condition, even if they look identical from the road. Publishing one flat price would either overcharge someone with a short, easy-access job, or undercharge someone with a long run, difficult access and a blockage to clear first — and neither is a fair way to price the work. This is the same reason our pricing page sets out what affects cost rather than listing figures: a genuine quote has to reflect the property in front of us, not an average.
What to include in your online enquiry
The more detail you give us upfront, the faster and more accurate the quote. It helps to mention:
- The address and, if you know it, roughly where the drain access points are (for example, "manhole in the back garden near the fence")
- Whether access looks straightforward or is likely to be obstructed by decking, planting, or a locked gate
- What you’ve noticed — recurring blockages, slow drainage, a smell, or nothing at all if this is a pre-purchase check
- Whether you need a simple video review, or a full written report with a drain map for a solicitor, lender or Southern Water
Once we have that, we can give you a realistic quote rather than a guess, and confirm exactly what’s included before anyone attends.
Reports for solicitors, lenders and Southern Water
If the survey is for a house purchase, a mortgage lender’s requirements, or a build-over agreement with Southern Water, the deliverable needs to meet a recognised standard rather than just being a video file. That typically means grading any defects found against the WRc MSCC5 classification system used across the UK drainage industry, and producing a drain map showing pipe layout, material and the position of anything that needs attention. Because this involves more write-up and checking than a straightforward look at the pipe, it’s usually reflected as part of the quote rather than treated as a hidden extra — we’ll tell you upfront if a formal report changes what’s involved.
If you’re weighing up whether you need a full CCTV drain survey at all rather than a simple blocked drain clearance, it’s worth being clear on what each one actually involves before you request a quote, so you know what you’re asking for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn’t there just a price listed on the site? Because the price genuinely depends on things we can’t see without a few details from you first — access, the length of the run, and whether a blockage needs clearing before the camera can pass. A quote based on guesswork isn’t a fair quote, so we ask for those details through the online form before confirming a price.
Does the quote include clearing a blockage if the camera can’t get past it? Not automatically — if we know in advance that the drain is currently blocked, we’ll include jetting or rodding as part of the quote. If a blockage is only discovered once the engineer is on site, we’ll explain what’s needed and agree it with you before doing any extra work.
Do I need a written report, or is a video enough? It depends on what the survey is for. A quick check on a recurring blockage might only need a video review, but anything going to a solicitor, mortgage lender or Southern Water — such as for a house purchase or a build-over agreement — will need a formal report with defect grading and a drain map.
Is a CCTV drain survey worth it if I’m not having any problems right now? It can be, particularly before buying an older Brighton or Hove property, since a standard homebuyer survey doesn’t inspect underground drainage at all. A camera survey is the only way to see the pipe’s actual condition before you commit to a purchase.
