Condition ratings
A downpipe ends in a gulley whose cover stayed on. What part of that arrangement is still unrated?
Only the parts in view. A downpipe that ends in a gulley whose cover stayed on leaves the inside of that gulley, and the outlet it feeds, unrated. The pipe above ground could be described. The trap under the cover was not opened, so it was not inspected. Do not award the closed gulley a pass because the downpipe looked clear.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
The downpipe is the vertical pipe the surveyor can see. It can be rating 1 if no repair is currently needed, rating 2 if a repair is needed but is not serious or urgent, or rating 3 if it is serious or urgent. The gulley is the trapped pot at the bottom. With the cover left on, the trap, the debris, and the outlet were not inspected. That inside is NI, and NI is not rating 1. A clear downpipe does not show whether the trap is blocked or the branch is broken. Do not give the closed pot the downpipe's number.
A visual survey does not lift covers as a matter of course, and it does not camera the drain. There is no grade hiding under the lid for you to invent. The what to do now note advises you. It does not invoice the seller for a new drain because a cover stayed on, and NI is not a defect. If the gulley was flooding, or the cover was broken, that visible fault can be rated on its own. Concealed pipework beyond the pot is not guaranteed sound. Ask which part was rated and which part is NI, and do not tell the lender the drainage passed.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Is the downpipe rated, and is the gulley under the cover NI?
- Did any flooding or a broken cover let you rate the gulley itself?
- Are you clear the outlet was not seen?
What are the typical next steps?
- Leave the unopened gulley as not inspected.
- Do not copy the downpipe rating onto the trap.
- Do not claim the drain was tested.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
If the cover is cracked, is that the inside of the gulley?
No. A cracked cover is the cover. The trap underneath can still be NI if it was not opened.
Can the downpipe be rating 2 while the gulley is NI?
Yes. A repair to the visible pipe does not inspect the pot under the cover.