Is this a blocked drain?

[darlingsweetpea]

We're buying a property and the survey report said the drain was blocked. We have asked the vendor for more information and they have said it is not blocked and sent the two images.

I don't really know what I am looking at and whether or not I should get a drain expert out. If the drains were blocked, surely you would expect the manhole cover to be full to the brim. Any thoughts welcome! Thank you

That particular manhole is not currently blocked, but that doesn't mean a drain connecting to it isn't. Typically next to the house where a gulley or bend has broken, been crushed, or has roots in it. I don't know if that is the one the surveyor commented on.

It is also possible that the manhole was full when the surveyor looked in it, if somebody just had a bath, and it has slowly drained away.

You need to speak to the surveyor and ask where he looked and what he saw.

It is most unlikely that he reported a blockage without seeing anything,

There should only be water at the bottom, like there currently is.

I want to look at that storm drain myself with the cover off and sling a couple of buckets of water down all the connecting drains.

I agree it does not look blocked, but I wouldn't trust a photo.