Buying a home is exciting, exhausting and occasionally overwhelming. What with the viewings, offers, surveys and solicitors, there’s certainly a lot to think about. But one thing many home buyers forget to check is the Drainage System.
Drains are out of sight, underground, and rarely top of the agenda or even discussed during the buying process. Yet, drainage problems are one of the most common and expensive surprises new homeowners face after moving in. A house can look perfect on the surface but hidden drainage issues can quickly turn your dream home into a costly headache.
So why do drainage checks matter when buying a house?
When you are buying a new home, most standard surveys focus on what can be seen above ground. Drains however, are usually excluded unless there’s obvious signs of trouble.
This means problems such as:
- Tree roots growing into pipes
- Cracked or displaced drains
- Partial or full collapses
- Old or poorly repaired pipework
- Shared drains you didn’t know you were responsible for
all of these go undetected until you’ve moved in and living in the property properly. At this point, the responsibility and the repair bill usually falls on you.
What can home buyers check during viewings?
If you’re viewing properties it’s worth paying attention to drainage early doors. Have a look around the outside of the house. Are there any manhole covers within the property boundaries? Are there any large trees close to the building? Do any external drains or gullies look damaged or poorly maintained? It’s also worth asking the agent whether there are any know drainage issues and whether the drains are shared or private. These questions won’t give you the full picture, but they can highlight potential concerns before you commit.
Drainage Checks during the buying process.
If you’re in the middle of buying a home, your solicitor will usually contact the local water company as part of the conveyancing process. This can help confirm:
- Whether the drains are adopted or private
- Which (if any) sections of pipework you are responsible for
- Whether the property connects to public sewers
All of this is great, but it doesn’t assess the condition of the drains, only who owns them.
Buying a new build home? Check the warranty carefully.
New builds are not immune to drainage issues. So check your documentation closely. Look at what is covered, for how long and most importantly what exclusions apply to drainage and underground pipework. Understanding this upfront can save confusion and frustration later!
Why is a drain survey ideal for home buyers?
In a nutshell, it gives real peace of mind when buying a house. A CCTV drain survey is one of the most thorough checks you can arrange. It involves inspecting the drainage system using specialist cameras allowing us to see exactly what’s going on underground before you move in and make it home.
A home buyer drain survey can identify:
- Leaks and cracks
- Displaced joints
- Root intrusion
- Early signs of collapse
- Previous repairs and their condition
It can also show which parts of the drainage system belong to the property helping to avoid future disputes and unexpected responsibility.
For many buyers, this information can be used to:
- Renegotiate the purchase price
- Request repairs before completion
- Decide whether to proceed or not, with utmost confidence.
Start your new home journey happy!
Buying a home is a huge investment. Discovering drainage problems after you’ve moved in can be stressful, disruptive, and expensive.
A professional CCTV drain survey helps remove the guesswork giving you clarity before you commit.
If you’re buying a house and want to make sure there are no hidden drainage surprises waiting underground, Happy Drains are here to help.
Because moving into your new home should be about settling in and creating happy memories, not dealing with blocked drains. (that’s our job!)
Happy New Year, Happy New Home!
Best, David & Will