Drainage advice
Straight answers, backed by named sources
Costs, responsibility and regulations — the questions homeowners actually ask about drains, answered clearly and attributed to Checkatrade, Water UK, Ofwat, the ABI and the Building Regulations.
How much does a CCTV drain survey cost?
Typical UK prices, what's included, and how to compare quotes — from £85 to £350+ (Checkatrade, 2025).
Read the guide →Who is responsible for drains and sewers?
Your drains vs the water company's — and what changed in the 2011 private-sewer transfer (Ofwat).
Read the guide →Do I need a build-over agreement?
The 3-metre rule, self-certification vs formal agreement, and what your water company needs.
Read the guide →Can I claim drain repairs on insurance?
What's covered vs excluded, trace-and-access, and subsidence from leaking drains (ABI, 2025).
Read the guide →Why does my drain keep blocking?
Wipes, fat, roots and collapses — the 93% problem, and when a CCTV survey is worth it (Water UK).
Read the guide →Soakaways: the rules, costs and when they fail
Building Regs, the percolation test, and why clay soils are a problem — around £850 to £2,500+.
Read the guide →Do I need a drain survey before buying a house?
What a homebuyer survey misses, and why a £150–£350 CCTV survey can save thousands.
Read the guide →