CCTV Drain Survey Costs (2026 UK Guide)
What a CCTV drain survey costs in the UK in 2026, what changes the price, and how to make sure you get a survey that's actually worth paying for.
If your drains keep blocking, you are buying a house, or you suspect a leak or collapse, a CCTV drain survey is usually the smartest first step. But how much should you expect to pay, and what actually drives the price?
This guide breaks down typical UK costs in 2026. As a result, you can budget with confidence and avoid paying for a survey that tells you nothing useful.
What is a CCTV drain survey?
A CCTV drain survey sends a waterproof camera through your drainage system to record the exact condition of the pipes. Because the surveyor can see cracks, root ingress, displaced joints, scale and blockages, there is no need to guess or dig. The surveyor then logs each defect, ideally coded to the industry WRc standard.
The result should be footage plus a written report. In short, it tells you what is wrong, where it is, and what needs doing.
Typical CCTV drain survey costs
Prices vary by region, access and the size of the system. MyJobQuote’s drain survey cost guide (updated August 2026) puts a CCTV drain survey at £90–£500, depending on the type of survey. It gives around £250–£350 for a pre-purchase survey on a standard home. Within that range:
- Standard residential survey: a modest fee for a typical house with accessible inspection chambers.
- Homebuyer drain survey: a little more, because it is more thorough and should produce a buyer-focused report — see the homebuyer drain survey page.
The guide gives no figure for commercial surveys. They are priced on the size and complexity of the network — see commercial drain surveys. If you need the work done outside trading hours, ask whether that is possible.
Always ask for a written quote up front. Also, check that the written report is included rather than charged separately. If you hope to claim the repair on insurance, check whether home insurance covers drains first.
What changes the price?
- Access. If the inspection chamber is easy to reach, the survey is quicker. Hard access, or no chamber at all, adds time.
- System size. More pipe runs mean a longer survey.
- Location. Prices differ across UK cities, and so do the drains. Each city page describes the local housing and common faults, for example drain surveys in London, CCTV surveys in Manchester, drain surveys in Leeds and camera surveys in Sheffield. The list of cities covered links every city page.
- Extras. Drain tracing, mapping or jetting to clear the line before surveying can add to the cost — see drain mapping & tracing.
How to get value from a survey
A cheap survey with no report is a false economy. Therefore, to get real value, make sure you get:
- WRc-coded findings, not just raw footage.
- A written report you can share with insurers, solicitors or contractors — see drain survey reports. Knowing how to read a drain survey report helps you check what it says.
- Plain-English recommendations so you know what (if anything) to do next.
If the survey finds a defect, the good news is that many faults can be fixed without digging. Ask whether no-dig drain repair or relining would work before anyone plans to dig.
The bottom line
A CCTV drain survey is one of the cheapest ways to avoid an expensive mistake. If you are buying, read why a homebuyer drain survey is worth it. Whether that is a recurring blockage you keep paying to clear, or a collapsed drain you only discover after buying a house, the survey can more than pay for itself.
Get in touch with your postcode and we’ll pass your request on straight away. Ask for a written quote before any work starts.