Compliance Surveys

You receive clear, honest reporting, backed by 40+ years of wastewater expertise that provides the information that property transactions require.

Drainage surveys identify problems before you commit to purchase. Failed systems, non-compliant discharges, inadequate capacity. Understanding these issues before exchange allows informed decisions and negotiation.

Replacing failed drainage systems can cost thousands. Compliance surveys reveal these issues during purchase negotiations, not months after moving in when they become your expensive problem.

Sellers benefit from surveys identifying problems they can address before marketing or explain honestly to buyers - preventing deal collapses when buyers' surveys reveal hidden issues.

Some mortgage lenders require drainage surveys before lending on properties with private sewage. Compliance surveys provide the documentation lenders need for approval.

Properties must comply with Building Regulations and Environment Agency General Binding Rules. Compliance surveys identify non-compliance and advise on rectification, protecting buyers from enforcement action.

Even functioning systems require maintenance. Surveys identify service needs, helping new owners budget for ongoing costs and preventing problems through neglect.

Having a homebuyer drainage survey protects you from taking on a non-compliant or failing system. Drainage is rarely covered in a standard RICS building survey, and a non-compliant system can cost thousands to upgrade. By conducting a professional independent septic tank inspection before an exchange, you will know exactly what you are buying.

If you're selling a property with a sewage treatment plant or septic tank, your solicitors will need the results of a compliance survey to protect you during the sale. Without it, the buyers' solicitors may raise pre-completion enquiries that delay or prevent the sale.

Estate agents in rural areas increasingly recommend commissioning a survey before listing, as it removes a common cause of last-minute renegotiation and demonstrates GBR compliance.

Agents marketing rural properties benefit from arranging compliance surveys addressing buyer concerns early and demonstrating vendor transparency.

Many mortgage lenders operating in South West markets now require a foul drainage report as part of lending on properties not connected to a mains sewer. If your lender has requested a drainage compliance survey, our team can produce a report in the format needed. Simply contact us today with your lender's specific requirements to get started.

Legal advisors acting for buyers or sellers who need professional drainage assessment informing transaction advice and negotiations.

Investors assessing rural property portfolios or development opportunities need accurate understanding of drainage infrastructure condition and compliance for investment decisions.

If our survey concludes that your system does not meet the GBR, this isn't cause for panic, but should be addressed. Depending on the issue, this might mean straightforward repairs, such as replacing manhole lids to make access safe, or a full system upgrade, for example replacing a septic tank discharging to a ditch with a sewage treatment plant. Where your non-compliance is time-sensitive, for example if you're mid-way through a property sale, we'll help prioritise the work or give a cost estimate for you to negotiate with your buyer to keep things moving.

If you decide to proceed with any recommended works, we can help. We operate as a full-service water and wastewater engineering company, so we can move directly from survey to specification, installation, and sign-off without the need to appoint a third-party contractor, so you're not left navigating the problem alone.

The team at WCI Group have been delivering water and wastewater engineering services across the South West of England since 1983. Our compliance surveys are conducted by the same experts who design, install, and maintain off-mains drainage systems, meaning our reports reflect practical, real-world experience rather than a checklist inspection.

We are one of the very few companies in the region that conduct these services under one roof. If your survey reveals a non-compliant system, we can provide a fully costed remediation proposal at the same time as delivering the report, saving you time and money where delays are costly.

We operate primarily in Somerset, Devon and Dorset where off-mains drainage is more common. If your property is outside this area, contact us directly to discuss availability.

WCI has been operating for 40+ years, relying on extensive experience that includes our understanding of current General Binding Rules (GBR). We produce reports that solicitors and lenders will accept thanks to our industry experience and accreditations.

Across the group, we hold accreditations and certifications, including British Water, SafeContractor, and ICE. These are recognised by the Environment Agency, solicitors, and mortgage lenders, solidifying our years of professional competency.