Hidden drainage problems cost Irish homeowners thousands every year. A professional CCTV drain survey gives you the full picture before you sign — and the evidence to negotiate if problems exist.
📞 Book Your Survey — 086 419 8724Standard building surveys examine walls, roofs, and visible structures. But the drainage system — buried underground — is completely invisible. Here's what can lurk beneath a property:
Tree roots grow into pipe joints, causing blockages and cracks. Extremely common in older West Cork properties with mature gardens.
Old clay or concrete pipes can collapse entirely, requiring full excavation and replacement. Often impossible to detect from the surface.
Ground movement shifts pipe sections apart, creating leaks, ingress points for roots, and gradual soil erosion beneath the property.
Sagging sections where waste collects, causing recurring blockages. Common in properties built on soft West Cork ground.
Rainwater connected to foul drains (or vice versa), non-compliant septic connections, or extensions plumbed into undersized pipes.
Rural West Cork properties often rely on treatment plants or septic tanks. A failing system can mean a full replacement before you can move in.
Anyone purchasing a property in West Cork or South Kerry. Especially important for older homes, rural properties, and anything with a septic system.
Advising clients on property purchases? A CCTV drain report provides the documentation you need to protect your client's interests.
A clean drain survey adds confidence to a sale. Recommend it to sellers for transparency, or to buyers for peace of mind.
Some lenders now request drain surveys for older properties. Our reports meet the documentation standards required.
We work regularly with solicitors and estate agents across West Cork. Our reports are formatted for professional use — clear summary, photographic evidence, video footage, and repair recommendations where applicable. We can schedule surveys at short notice to accommodate closing deadlines. Call Pete directly on 086 419 8724 for priority booking.
From booking to report — a straightforward process designed to fit around your purchase timeline.
Tell us the property address and your timeline. We'll schedule a visit — usually within a few days.
We inspect all accessible drains using our MiniCam MC 360 CCTV system. We also use underground sonar to locate hidden pipe runs.
You receive a written report with still images, video footage, and a clear assessment of every pipe run inspected.
If issues are found, use the report to negotiate the price or request repairs before closing. Your solicitor gets the evidence they need.
Every report is comprehensive, professional, and suitable for legal and financial purposes.
A drain survey doesn't just protect you — it can actually save you money on the purchase.
A recent buyer in West Cork commissioned a pre-purchase drain survey on a property listed at €320,000. The survey revealed displaced joints and root intrusion in the main sewer line — invisible from the surface.
🏠 Property price: €320,000
🔍 Drain survey cost: ~€300
🔧 Estimated repair cost identified: €6,500
📉 Price reduction negotiated: €5,000
Net saving: ~€4,700
A small investment that paid for itself many times over — and the buyer knew exactly what they were getting.
West Cork properties have unique drainage challenges that make a pre-purchase survey especially important:
Many West Cork homes date from the 1960s–1980s with original clay drainage that may be past its lifespan. Without a camera inspection, you're buying blind.
Properties outside towns rely on septic tanks or treatment plants. A failing system might not be obvious during a viewing but could cost €10,000+ to replace.
West Cork's heavy rainfall puts extra pressure on drainage systems. Undersized or damaged pipes that cope in summer can cause flooding in winter.
Beautiful mature trees are a hallmark of West Cork properties — but their roots are the #1 cause of drain damage. We see root intrusion on a weekly basis.
While not legally required, a pre-purchase drain survey is strongly recommended by most solicitors. Standard building surveys do not cover underground drainage. Hidden problems like root intrusion, cracked pipes, or collapsed drains can cost €5,000–€15,000+ to repair. A CCTV drain survey costs a fraction of potential repair bills and gives you full visibility before you commit.
Our survey includes a full CCTV camera inspection of all accessible drains, underground sonar pipe location where needed, a written report with still images and video footage, condition assessment of every pipe run, and a clear defect summary with repair estimates. The report is suitable for your solicitor, mortgage provider, or insurance company.
Absolutely. If our survey identifies drainage problems, you can use the report and estimated repair costs to negotiate a reduction in the purchase price. Many buyers in West Cork have saved thousands this way. Your solicitor can present the report as evidence in negotiations.
Most residential pre-purchase drain surveys take 1–2 hours on site. We can usually schedule within a few days of your call, and the written report is delivered promptly — important when you're working to purchase deadlines.
Yes. A building survey examines visible structures — walls, roof, floors, windows. It does NOT cover underground drainage. A CCTV drain survey is a specialist inspection using a waterproof camera inside the pipes. Many expensive drainage problems are completely invisible from the surface, which is why solicitors increasingly recommend both surveys.
We cover all of West Cork and South Kerry including Bantry, Skibbereen, Clonakilty, Schull, Castletownbere, Glengarriff, Kenmare, Baltimore, Dunmanway, Bandon, Kinsale, and all surrounding areas.
Yes — and increasingly so. Many solicitors in Cork and West Cork now routinely recommend a CCTV drain survey as part of due diligence. This is especially true for older properties, rural houses with septic tanks or treatment plants, and any property where the drainage layout is unclear.
Protect your investment with a professional CCTV drain survey. Book today — we can usually visit within a few days.