Homebuyer drain surveys on the Isle of Man
The drains are one of the few parts of a house you can't see on a viewing. A camera survey before you buy shows their condition, so you know what you're taking on before you commit.
Or feel free to send a WhatsApp, photos welcome.
- Written report you can share
- Septic tanks and treatment plants checked too
- Useful for negotiating
In short
- Why it matters
- A standard house survey usually only looks at drains from the surface. Once you've bought the property, repairing its private drains is your responsibility.
- What we check
- The condition of the underground pipes and chambers, where they run, and, if there is one, the septic tank or treatment plant and where it discharges.
- What you get
- Recorded footage and a plain-English written report, coded to MSCC5 (the UK industry standard), that you can share with your advocate, mortgage lender or the seller. Normally within a week.
- When to book
- Once your offer is accepted and before you're legally committed to buy, so there's time to act on what we find.
- What it costs
- Your first consultation is free, and we give you a free estimate before any work starts.
When a pre-purchase drain survey makes most sense
- The property is older, particularly if it still has its original clay drains
- There are large trees near the house or the drain runs
- It has a septic tank or sewage treatment plant rather than mains drainage
- The house survey mentions damp, cracking, subsidence or anything to do with drains
- You plan to extend, which may mean building over or near a drain
- There are signs of past problems, such as patched paving over a drain run or a history of blockages
Buying a house with a septic tank or treatment plant
Plenty of rural homes on the Island aren't connected to the public sewer. If the house you're buying has its own system, these are the questions worth answering before you commit:
What is it, and how old?
A septic tank and a sewage treatment plant work differently and have different upkeep. Our guide to tank systems explains the difference.
Where does it discharge?
From a septic tank, the water should go into the ground through a drainage field. From a treatment plant, it can also go to a stream or ditch with a DEFA licence. What's allowed depends on the system and any licence. See our Isle of Man drainage rules page.
Is it working properly?
Warning signs include smells, slow drains, sludge in the last chamber, or wet, spongy ground over the drainage field. We check the tank and, where we can, the outlet and drainage area.
When was it last emptied or serviced?
Ask the seller for records. A system that hasn't been emptied for years is more likely to have blocked its drainage field.
Questions to ask the seller
- Is there a plan showing where the tank or plant and the drainage field are?
- When was it installed, and was it approved by Building Control? Is there a completion certificate?
- Does it discharge to a stream or ditch, and if so, is there a DEFA discharge licence?
- Is it shared with any other property?
- When was it last emptied and serviced, and are there records?
- Can a tanker get close enough to empty it?
If the tank needs emptying so it can be inspected properly, bear in mind that Manx Utilities' tanker can take several weeks to book.
What to do with the results
Most surveys find drains in reasonable order, which is worth knowing too. If we do find problems, the report sets out what they are, how serious they are and what would fix them. You can then:
- ask the seller to fix them before completion
- use the report to negotiate on price
- plan the work for after you move in, knowing what's involved
- walk away, if the problems are more than you're prepared to take on
We'll give you our honest view of what matters and what doesn't. A few old, stable cracks aren't the same as a collapsed pipe, and the report will say so.
Homebuyer drain survey FAQs
Doesn't my house survey cover the drains?
Usually only from the surface. A surveyor may lift a manhole cover and look at the flow, but they won't see the condition of the pipes underground. A camera survey does.
Do I need the seller's permission?
Yes. We need access to the property and its manholes, so it's arranged through the seller or their estate agent. We'll work around them.
How quickly will I get the report?
Normally within a week of the survey. If you're working to a deadline, tell us when you book and we'll do what we can.
Can the report be shared with my advocate or the seller?
Yes. It's written to be read by people who aren't drainage experts, and it's yours to share.
Related pages
Buying a property?
Tell us the address and your timescale and we'll let you know what the survey would involve.