Buying a home can be an expensive and stressful process, particularly as the law of caveat emptor applies whereby buyers must satisfy themselves with their purchase with little to no recourse against the seller should issues later arise. For this reason, it is worth doing your homework and making sure that all i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed before you exchange contracts and complete the purchase.
Your conveyancer will perform basic searches and will recommend that you book a survey of the property to assure yourself of its current condition. An additional check that you may wish to arrange is a CCTV drain survey in Birmingham.
What is a CCTV drain survey?
A CCTV drain survey is a quick and non-invasive procedure during which a CCTV camera is inserted into the property’s drainage system to check for blockages and damage that could later require costly repairs.
A company such as https://www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/birmingham/ can perform a CCTV drain survey Birmingham and produce a written report to substantiate its findings, enabling you to either progress with the purchase in confidence or negotiate the purchase price to account for any remedial work that is necessary.
What can a CCTV drain survey tell you?
A CCTV drain survey will identify issues such as blocked drains, which may later back up, overflow, and become an environmental hazard. It can identify cracks or damage to the drains, perhaps from neglect or overgrown tree roots, which could not only cause the drainage system to fail but also threaten the structural integrity of the property. A survey can also identify any misaligned junctions in the plumbing system, enabling you to identify what damage would be within your remit as a new homeowner to resolve and what belongs to neighbouring properties or the council.
In conclusion
A pre-purchase CCTV drain survey is an inexpensive and non-invasive check of the property’s drainage system that can save you money in the long term. It is not included as standard in conveyancing checks, so it must be arranged privately.