CCTV Drainage Survey

annette's_corner

Is it worth spending £300 on a CCTV Drains Survey on an end of terrace property 123 years old? The house has clay pipes, no large trees in the area. Structural surveyor has not drawn it to my attention yet my solicitor reckons it's money well spent.

ben500

Your solicitor is dead right, get the survey done as if you find a fault later and with 123 year old clay pipe system you almost certainly will, the cost of having the work done is astronomical and you may well avoid purchasing the biggest white elephant of your life! The very least you are likely to get away with is an excess of £1,000.00 in the event you can substantiate a subsidence claim as this is the industry standard for subsidence. The most likely outcome of a claim would be gradual wear and tear which would result in a repudiation meaning a claim against your policy (two claims in one insured period will almost certainly result in an increased premium to account for additional/high risk) and the necessity to carry out extensive and costly work at a time you can least afford to do it or risk your insurance company withholding certain levels of cover until such works are carried out, the final bill doesn't even bear thinking about.