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 written assessment, and a clear cause, not a verbal opinion. A Drainage Report gives you dated CCTV footage and a written finding 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 a written report: dated, with footage, and with a clear explanation of what was found and why it caused the damage being claimed for. That is the difference between a CCTV drain inspection, which gives you camera footage and a verbal explanation on the day, and a Drainage Report, which puts that same finding into a written, dated document you can hand to your insurer.

What a Drainage Report Actually Includes

A Drainage Report from Drainage Works is built around the kind of documentation an insurer is likely to ask for:

  • A CCTV survey of the affected line, with digital footage
  • A written summary of what was found, dated at the time of inspection
  • Priority 1 / 2 / 3 risk classification of each fault
  • Annotated screenshots showing the specific defect
  • A staged remediation pathway if repair work is needed

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 our sister companies, Grace Foundation Solutions and 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

Will my insurer accept CCTV footage on its own, without a written report?
Most insurers want a written, dated report they can attach to the claim file, not just footage. A Drainage Report gives you both. Check with your specific insurer to confirm what they require.
Does Drainage Works deal directly with my insurance company?
We provide the written report 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.

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Need documentation for an insurance claim? Book a CCTV inspection or Drainage Report and get the evidence in writing.

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