Why Savvy Property Buyers Are Looking Underground Before Making an Offer

Every property buyer dreams of moving into their new home and not experiencing any nasty surprises…

But here’s the thing…

While most buyers scrutinise kitchens and bathrooms or the exterior “curb appeal”, one important aspect remains completely ignored. And that’s the property’s drains.

Hidden underground, drains are where some of the most expensive property problems fester. From leaks and cracks to serious structural damage. Oh, and collapsed drains.

So what do clever buyers do to protect themselves?

They get a homebuyer drain survey.

A homebuyer drain survey uses CCTV technology to perform a thorough inspection of the entire drainage system. Before they make an offer. That way, buyers know exactly what they’re letting themselves in for.

Let’s take a closer look…

Contents

1. Why Standard Property Surveys Skip The Drains
2. What A Homebuyer Drain Survey Reveals
3. Drainage Problems Cause Property Deals To Collapse
4. Clever Buyers Use Homebuyer Drain Surveys To Negotiate
5. When To Get A Homebuyer Drain Survey

Why Standard Property Surveys Skip The Drains

You may be surprised to learn this…

…but it’s true. The most comprehensive property surveys don’t include any testing of drains.

Guaranteed.

If you commission a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 Home Survey, drainage is never inspected. At least not down below ground level. RICS guidelines stipulate that surveyors will only carry out a visual assessment above ground. They’ll probably open up a manhole cover and take a look around.

But they won’t inspect the pipes underground.

This means any cracked pipes, leaks, tree root damage or collapses will go completely unnoticed.

Until it’s far too late.

Buyers experiencing persistent drain blockages after moving in often discover that these problems existed long before the sale completed.

And that’s the worst part. The drainage system is one of the most expensive components of any property to repair.

As soon as you get the keys, you’re liable for everything.

If the drains haven’t been tested prior to purchase, you could be setting yourself up for disaster.

This is where a homebuyer drain survey comes in handy.

Smart buyers know this. That’s why they leave no stone unturned when buying a property.

And they certainly don’t leave their drains unchecked.

What A Homebuyer Drain Survey Reveals

Okay, so that covers what homeowners don’t find with a standard survey.

But what can you find with a homebuyer drain survey?

When surveyed by a professional CCTV drainage company, you can expect to find…

Damaged pipes:

• Cracked or collapsed drains
• Tree root ingress where tree roots have entered the drains
• Blockages caused by dirt and debris, oil or foreign objects

Structural problems:

• Misaligned joints causing blockages
• Any evidence of illegal connections installed by the previous owner

You get the picture.

All of the above are huge red flags for buyers. Structural issues can sink your property deal fast. Especially if you’re turned down for an insurance claim down the line.

Thankfully, a homebuyer drain survey can identify every single issue using nothing more than a small CCTV camera.

The survey produces a detailed report complete with video footage and recommendations. Leaving the buyer fully informed.

Knowledge is power.

Drainage Problems Cause Property Deals To Collapse

There’s another reason why a CCTV drain survey should be mandatory for property buyers.

It stops them from losing money.

According to Country Life, the number of property sales collapsing in 2024 rose by nearly a quarter compared to 2023.

And almost 30% of those failures were caused by the buyer pulling out of the transaction.

When you think about it, that’s a huge amount of failed sales. All because buyers changed their mind after receiving bad news from their surveyor.

A surprising amount of them are caused by drainage issues.

Mortgage lenders are clamping down on survey problems. If a homebuyer survey uncovers drainage problems, lenders can freeze mortgages until the issue has been resolved.

Buyers are none too happy about this.

Which is why many opt for a homebuyer drain survey before accepting the offer.

If there are problems, the buyer can choose whether they still want to go ahead with the purchase. Offers can get withdrawn, prices renegotiated or the buyer requests the seller complete the repairs as part of the agreement.

At least the decision to continue with the purchase is informed.

Clever Buyers Use Homebuyer Drain Surveys To Negotiate

Another thing property buyers should know…

A homebuyer drain survey can actually be used as a bargaining tool.

Think about it.

Let’s say your drain survey uncovers root ingress and a partially collapsed drain pipe. That’s going to be thousands of pounds off your budget before you even move in.

And there’s your negotiation wedge right there.

Armed with evidence from a professional drainage survey, you can now…

• Ask the seller for a lower price to cover repairs
• Get the seller to complete the repairs by exchange of contracts
• Walk away from the sale completely if the drain survey is bad enough

But what happens if you didn’t get a drain survey?

Then you’ve got nothing. No leverage. No power to negotiate. And if the worst happens, thousands of pounds of repair costs to contend with after exchange.

If you’re the seller, why wouldn’t you get a drain survey done before going on the market?

It weeds out any problems before they become an issue. Removing any hurdles in the sales process.

Smart buyers get homebuyer drain surveys.

Nobody knows what problems your drains may be hiding.

When To Get A Homebuyer Drain Survey

You should get your homebuyer drain survey done as soon as your offer is accepted.

Buyers shouldn’t leave it any later than acceptance.

Any later and the survey findings can delay the process or even invalidate the buyer’s purchase agreement.

Timing-wise, buyers should get the survey done once the offer has been accepted but before exchange of contracts.

That way, buyers have plenty of time to:

• Review the findings with their solicitor
• Negotiate repairs or reduction in purchase price
• Decide whether or not they still want to go ahead with buying the property

Homebuyer drain surveys are particularly useful when:

• Buying older properties with outdated drains
• Properties with large trees nearby. Tree roots can cause some serious damage
• Additions and extensions have been built where drains may have been disrupted
• If the seller doesn’t have any records of who owns the drains

Homebuyer drain surveys take around 2 hours to complete. They won’t disrupt your day whatsoever. And they’ll give you the greatest peace of mind before completing your dream property.

Wrap Up

Not every housebuyer is savvy enough to get a drain survey before purchase.

But you’re reading this. So you know better.

Smart Drain UK has inspected hundreds of homebuyer drains. And repaired hundreds more.

There’s nothing to lose by checking. Everything to gain.