Leak detection cost in Paris: six real quotes compared
Water was coming through the ceiling of the apartment below. A plumber had checked the visible pipes and found nothing. The owner needed a non-destructive leak search with a camera inspection, and a written report saying whether the leak was on the private or the shared pipes. Here is what Paris specialists quoted.
By the HireDov teamUpdated 4 min readBased on a real HireDov sourcing mission (client anonymized), October 2026.
The request
A leak search in a Paris apartment, including a camera inspection of a pipe hidden in the wall, traced as far as the building's shared drain stack. The report had to state whether the fault was on the private section (the owner pays) or the shared section (the building pays). In France this report matters for the insurer and the building manager (syndic).
Who we found
Dov shortlisted 26 leak detection and drain inspection companies serving Paris and contacted each one with the same request. Several asked for the address and a phone number before giving any price. A few replied that the job was outside their scope.
The six quotes
| Quote | Price | What it covered |
|---|---|---|
| A | €390 excl. VAT (€468 incl.) | Leak search, camera inspection and written report, travel in Paris included |
| B | €485 (VAT basis not stated) | Leak search between two floors, written report, booking within about 48 hours |
| C | €540 incl. VAT | Leak search |
| D | €550 incl. VAT | Non-destructive leak search, detailed report with photos within 48 hours |
| E | €636 incl. VAT | Leak search |
| F | €693 incl. VAT (€630 excl.) | Travel and report plus hidden-pipe leak search; camera run to the shared stack offered as an option at +€650 excl. VAT |
What drives the price
- The scope. "Find where the leak is" and "trace the private pipe up to the shared stack" are two different jobs. One company quoted the second as a separate option that almost doubled the bill.
- The report. Most quotes included a written report, but not all said so. Without it, the insurer and the syndic have nothing to act on.
- VAT. Quotes came excl. VAT, incl. VAT, or without saying. Renovation work in a home over two years old can qualify for 10% VAT in France, so ask for the incl. VAT total.
On a like-for-like incl. VAT basis, the most expensive base quote was about 1.5x the cheapest, before any option.
What to ask before you book
- Does the price include travel, the camera inspection and the written report?
- Will the report state private vs shared responsibility?
- Is the total excl. or incl. VAT, and at which rate?
- What happens if the pipe can't be accessed with the camera?
Frequently asked questions
How much does leak detection cost in Paris?
On this request, six Paris specialists quoted between €468 and €693 incl. VAT for a leak search with a written report, with one quote listed only as €485. A camera run up to the shared drain stack was sometimes an extra option.
Is a written leak detection report necessary?
Yes if a neighbour, an insurer or the building manager is involved. The report should say whether the leak is on the private or the shared section, because that decides who pays for the repair.
Why do companies ask for my address before quoting?
Access, floor and building type change the job. Several companies on this mission would not price without the address and a phone number.
Can HireDov collect quotes for local services, not just products?
Yes. Dov handles services as well as goods: he shortlists local companies, sends one clear request to all of them, follows up and lines up the prices for you.
Put Dov on it
Describe the job once. Dov contacts the local specialists, chases the replies and lines up the quotes. Plans from $299/mo, cancel anytime.
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