Who Carries Out Drain Surveys – Drainage Companies or Surveyors?

Property owners are often unsure whether to call a drainage company, a land surveyor or a civil engineer when they need drains investigated. The answer depends on whether you are diagnosing a blockage or structural problem, or gathering information for design, planning or development.

What to Look For

• You have an active drainage problem such as blockage, flooding or foul smells
• You are buying a property and need a pre‑purchase drain report
• You are planning an extension or development that will alter drainage
• Insurers or lenders have asked for evidence about drain condition
• You need long‑term drainage capacity information for a new scheme
• You are not sure whether the issue is ‘maintenance’ or ‘design’

How We Diagnose the Problem

CCTV drain surveys for blockages, collapses and everyday faults are usually carried out by specialist drainage contractors using dedicated CCTV equipment. Where drainage information is required for planning, design or capacity modelling, civil engineers and land surveyors become more involved, often working alongside drainage companies.

How We Fix It

As a rule of thumb, reactive issues such as blockages and emergency flooding should go to a drainage specialist first. For projects that involve new drainage design, diversions or adoption, your architect or engineer will typically coordinate survey requirements with both surveyors and drainage partners. If you need a pure drainage inspection rather than a land survey, visit our drainage partner at mainlinedrains.co.uk.