When a drainage fault causes damage, whether that is water pooling under a house, a ceiling stain from a stormwater backup, or ground movement after a leak, your insurer is not going to take your word for it. They need documented evidence: what the problem was, when it happened, and what caused it. This is where a written drainage inspection report earns its place in a claim, and where a lot of homeowners get caught out by not having one before they need it.

Quick Answer

Insurers want documented evidence, photos, a professional assessment, and a clear cause, not a verbal opinion. Our CCTV Drain Survey gives you dated pipe footage and an as-built plan you can hand to your insurer as part of a claim. Always confirm exact requirements with your own insurer or policy wording first.

What Your Insurer Actually Needs

General advice from the Insurance Council of New Zealand and Consumer NZ is consistent: take photos or video of the damage before any emergency repairs, cleanup, or disposal of damaged items, keep a written record of every conversation with your insurer (dates, names, what was discussed), and get a professional assessment where the cause of damage is not obvious. Consumer NZ specifically advises discussing any non-urgent repairs with your insurer before you start them, since starting work before it is documented can complicate a claim.

Most insurers, including larger providers like AA Insurance, AMI, and Tower, publish their own claims and disaster-recovery guidance online. Requirements vary by policy and by insurer, so the most reliable step is always to check directly with your own insurer or read your policy wording before you rely on anything general, including this article.

Why "I Think It's the Drain" Isn't Enough

A verbal opinion, even from an experienced drainlayer, is not the same as documented evidence. What actually supports a claim is dated pipe footage and a clear explanation of what was found and why it caused the damage being claimed for. Our CCTV Drain Survey and As Built Plan gives you exactly that — footage from inside the affected drain, an as-built plan of the drain layout, and findings explained on site. For pre-purchase or asset condition surveys, see the Drainage Reports page.

What a CCTV Drain Survey Delivers

Our CCTV Drain Survey and As Built Plan is built around the kind of documentation an insurer is likely to ask for:

  • A CCTV survey of the affected line — 1 to 2 hours on site
  • Pipe footage from inside every accessible run, dated at the time of inspection
  • As-built plan showing drain locations and the affected area
  • Defect identification with on-site plain-language explanation
  • Fixed-price repair quote for any defects found

See our pricing guide for current rates, and the Drainage Reports page for more on what is covered.

When It Goes Through Toka Tū Ake Instead of Your Insurer

If drainage damage is linked to a natural hazard event, such as widespread flooding, the claim may fall under natural hazards cover rather than a standard home insurance claim. Toka Tū Ake, the Natural Hazards Commission, provides limited cover for land and essential services, including drainage, within 8 metres of your home. In most cases you still start the claim with your own insurer, who manages the natural hazards portion on your behalf, rather than contacting Toka Tū Ake directly. The rules changed on 1 July 2024 with the Natural Hazards Insurance Act, so if your claim relates to an older event, different rules may apply. Check the Toka Tū Ake website or ask your insurer which framework applies to your situation.

Where an inspection finds that drainage failure has already caused structural movement, Drainage Works can refer you to the Foundations Group structural repair team, including Geofix®, for the structural side. See our structural referral page for how that works.

Getting Ahead of a Claim

If your home has had recurring drainage niggles, a slow drain, a damp patch that never quite dries out, getting a report done before damage occurs gives you a documented baseline. If damage has already happened, book an inspection as soon as you reasonably can. Insurers generally want evidence that reflects the property at, or close to, the time of the event, so the sooner the drain is inspected, the stronger the documentation.

Common Questions

What documentation does our CCTV Drain Survey provide for an insurance claim?
Our CCTV Drain Survey and As Built Plan gives you dated pipe footage from inside every accessible drain run, plus an as-built plan showing the drain layout and the affected area. Check with your specific insurer to confirm what format they require, as requirements vary.
Does Drainage Works deal directly with my insurance company?
We provide the as-built plan and footage for you to submit as part of your claim. We don't manage the claim process itself or liaise with insurers on your behalf. For claim-specific questions, your insurer or the Insurance Council of New Zealand are the right point of contact.
What if the drainage issue is linked to a flood or storm event?
Land and essential services like drainage within 8 metres of your home may fall under Toka Tū Ake natural hazards cover rather than your standard home insurance. You would usually still start with your regular insurer, who manages that portion of the claim.

Book a Free Site Evaluation

Need documentation for an insurance claim? Book a CCTV Drain Survey and As Built Plan — pipe footage and an as-built plan you can submit to your insurer.

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