A CCTV repair costs £80 to £600 in the UK, depending on what has failed. A diagnostic visit typically costs £80 to £180, a replacement hard drive £120 to £250 fitted, a replacement camera £120 to £350, and a new recorder (NVR or DVR) £250 to £700. The most common reasons a system stops recording are a failed hard drive, a power supply fault, or a lost connection after a router change.
Key Takeaways
- A CCTV diagnostic visit typically costs £80-£180
- A failed hard drive is the most common fault: £120-£250 to replace and set up
- A replacement recorder (NVR or DVR) costs £250-£700 fitted
- Replacing a single camera typically costs £120-£350 including fitting
- Restoring app access or resetting a forgotten password usually costs £80-£150
CCTV repairs in London
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The figures in this guide are typical UK prices. Tell us the make of recorder and what has stopped working, and we confirm the price before any work starts. Registered installer for Hikvision, Dahua and Uniview, with 200+ five-star reviews.
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How Much Does a CCTV Repair Cost?
A CCTV repair costs £80 to £600 in the UK. Most repairs fall between £120 and £300, covering the visit, diagnosis and a single replacement part such as a hard drive, power supply or camera.
| Fault / repair | Typical cost (fitted) |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic visit | £80-£180 |
| Replacement hard drive (2-4TB surveillance drive) | £120-£250 |
| Replacement camera (like-for-like) | £120-£350 |
| Replacement NVR or DVR recorder | £250-£700 |
| Power supply or PoE switch replacement | £80-£200 |
| Cable or connector repair | £80-£250 |
| Password reset and app access restored | £80-£150 |
Prices in London are usually at the higher end because of travel and parking. Work at height, such as a camera on a high gable or a commercial building, may need extra access equipment.
Why Has My CCTV Stopped Recording?
A failed hard drive is the most common reason CCTV stops recording. Surveillance drives write continuously and typically last three to five years. Other common causes include:
- Hard drive full or failed: the recorder shows "HDD error" or "no disk", or footage is missing
- Power supply fault: several cameras go offline at once, often after a storm or power cut
- Router or broadband change: the app stops connecting, but the system still records locally
- Water in a connector: one camera flickers, shows interference or drops out in wet weather
- Recorder failure: the screen shows nothing or the recorder restarts repeatedly
Many of these can be diagnosed from a photo of the recorder screen or the error message, which helps the engineer bring the right parts on the first visit.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a CCTV Hard Drive?
Replacing a CCTV hard drive typically costs £120 to £250 fitted, including formatting, setting the recording schedule and checking every camera is recording. The drive itself costs around £60 to £150 depending on capacity. It is worth using a dedicated surveillance drive rather than a desktop drive, as these are designed to record around the clock.
| Drive size | Typical recording time (4 cameras) | Typical drive cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1TB | 7-14 days | £50-£70 |
| 2TB | 14-28 days | £60-£90 |
| 4TB | 28-45 days | £90-£140 |
Recording time depends on camera resolution, motion recording settings and how busy the scene is.
Should I Repair or Replace My CCTV System?
Repair is usually the better choice when one part has failed and the system is less than about seven years old. Replacement makes more sense when several cameras have failed, the image quality is too poor to identify people, or the recorder no longer receives security updates. A typical upgrade can often reuse the existing cables, which keeps costs down. Our CCTV installation cost guide covers the price of a new system.
| Situation | Usually best value |
|---|---|
| One camera or the hard drive has failed | Repair |
| App stopped working after a router change | Repair (remote access set-up) |
| Several cameras failing, system 8+ years old | Upgrade, reusing cables where possible |
| Footage too blurry to identify faces | Upgrade cameras |
Can You Repair CCTV Installed by Another Company?
Yes. Most CCTV systems use standard equipment from brands such as Hikvision, Dahua and Uniview, so any experienced installer can work on them. If the admin password has been lost, the recorder can usually be reset using the manufacturer's official process, which needs the device serial number and proof of access. Footage may be lost during a reset, so it is worth exporting anything important first if you can still view it.
How Much Does CCTV Maintenance Cost?
An annual CCTV maintenance visit typically costs £100 to £300, depending on the number of cameras. A visit includes cleaning lenses, checking camera angles, testing night vision, checking hard drive health and updating firmware. Regular maintenance catches failing drives before footage is lost, which matters most at the moment you need to review an incident.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to repair CCTV?
A CCTV repair costs £80 to £600 in the UK. Most repairs cost £120 to £300, covering a diagnostic visit and one replacement part such as a hard drive, camera or power supply.
How much is a replacement CCTV hard drive?
A replacement CCTV hard drive typically costs £120 to £250 fitted, including formatting and checking every camera records. The drive itself costs around £60 to £150 depending on size.
Why is my CCTV not recording?
The most common cause is a failed or full hard drive. Other causes include a power supply fault, a recorder failure, incorrect recording settings, or water damage in a camera connector.
Why can I not see my CCTV on my phone?
This usually happens after a broadband or router change, a password change, or an app update. The system is often still recording locally, and remote access can normally be restored in one visit.
Is it worth repairing an old CCTV system?
It is worth repairing if only one part has failed and the system is less than about seven years old. If several cameras are failing or images are too poor to identify people, an upgrade is usually better value.
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