Last minute drain survey requested

[Livingintheclouds]

I'm selling ly 150 year old detached property. Survey was done over a month ago and we are due to exchange in the next ten days.
I suddenly got an email from the EA that the buyer's Solicitors have booked for a drains survey to be done. Why? I have no problems with my drains. I know it's an old house but not sure why they want or need this. I have no big trees, no problems with water draining, no backing up of drains, no smell.of sewerage, all signs of a problem. I'm not expecting they will find any issues, I'm just worried that this will delay things as we've already been waiting weeks.

Do you know whether they were satisfied with the survey? It may be that something was flagged in the survey that they're not particularly worried about but would nevertheless like to have checked out.

Well I think the time has passed for that. They got the results a month ago. Surely anything of concern should have been addressed or investigated straight away. We've been waiting for their buyers to be ready to exchange for weeks, they are finally ready to do so next week, then suddenly this arises.

Maybe they've beeen advised by friends who had a drain problem with a similar age house. If its booked for the next couple of days, shouldn't delay things.
If they mean puttong camera down though, is there access / manhole?

Last time I sold my buyers requested this very late in the process. Cameras put down the drains ( as they were shared) all done in an hour. Report emailed and all over and done with.
If everything is fine and the survey is booked it can just be a box ticking exercise.

It's possible it's an insurance related request rather than anything more sinister. I've seen this requested for older properties so many times. If you're due to exchange soon then the insurance needs to start from that date which would correspond with the late request. If there are no issues then it shouldn't hold things up. Give the EA a call to enquire and perhaps a follow-up call to your solicitors to see if they're aware of anything that might hold it up.

With a 150 year old house, as mine is, the drains from the house are also 150 years old. And though you've not personally experienced any issues, my neighbours have because the only modern element is where it connects off the properties.

It sounds reasonable given home owners are responsible for the element on their property.

Most houses of that age have drains collapsed in places. If not near the house you probably wouldn't know but is a source of dame problems for many old houses and expensive to repair

Quite easy to arrange, most big firms offer it and can send same day results.

I appreciate its frustrating but I don't agree with your comment "the time has past for that". It ought not take long. FWIW all but one of our four party chain was ready to exchange for 2 months before it actually happened... its a waiting game.

Another here, who can sympathise with your position but, as the owner of 110 year old drains, I think they are very wise.
My drains have never given me any problems.......until this last week.
Never blocked, no smells, everything draining beautifully on the surface.
Then during the course of investigating some house cracks, manhole cover lifted to reveal beautifully odour free, clean drains with the concrete bases and side walls eroded - sewage gently seeping underground.
Your buyers have been well advised.

I'm adding "lift the manhole cover" to my monthly household chore list.

Our mortgage lender asked us to get one of these done. It was also fairly late in the process.