Water leaking from the ceiling?
Water dripping from the ceiling needs fast action, especially near lights. Here's what to do in the next five minutes, and who to call.
It starts as a small brown patch. Then a drip. Then a steady drip onto the floor, and maybe the ceiling starts to sag. If you live in a flat, it's often coming from the flat above.
A ceiling leak can be serious, but a few quick steps keep you safe and limit the damage.
What to do right now
- Turn off the electricity to that area at your fuse box. Do this first if water is near a light or socket.
- Turn off your stopcock if the leak could be from your own pipes, bath or shower.
- In a flat? Knock on the door of the flat above. Their bathroom, kitchen or washing machine is a common cause.
- Catch the water with a bucket and move furniture and valuables away.
- Take photos. Your insurer or landlord will want them.
Who to call for a water leak in the ceiling
Call an emergency plumber. The water is coming from a pipe, a bath or shower seal, a toilet, a tank in the loft, or an appliance upstairs, and a plumber can find which one and stop it. If water has reached your wiring, we can send an electrician too.
Where ceiling leaks usually come from
- A leaking bath or shower: worn seals, a cracked tray or a loose waste pipe
- A toilet seal or cistern connection that has failed
- A leaking pipe under the floorboards
- An overflowing cold water tank or hot water cylinder in the loft
- A washing machine or dishwasher hose in the flat above
If your shower is leaking through the ceiling, it's nearly always the seal around the tray or the waste pipe underneath. Stop using the shower until it's fixed.
How we fix it
We trace the water back to where it starts, stop it, and repair whatever failed. If the leak is in a neighbour's flat, we can go there too, with their permission. You get photos and a short report for your insurer or landlord.
How a callout works
- You call. A real person answers and talks you through making it safe.
- We dispatch the nearest free engineer and text you their name and arrival time. We aim for 60 minutes, and if traffic or a busy night means longer, we tell you straight away.
- The engineer diagnoses the fault and gives you a fixed price before starting.
- We fix it, tidy up and email your invoice and photos.
See our callout prices. If you decide not to go ahead after the quote, you pay only the callout.
Related help guides
Common questions
Who do I call for a water leak in the ceiling?
Call an emergency plumber. They can find where the water is coming from and stop it. If the water has reached lights or wiring, you may also need an electrician, and we can send both.
Is water dripping from the ceiling an emergency?
Yes. It can damage the ceiling and becomes dangerous if it reaches electrics. Turn off the power to that area and the water supply, then call us.
Why is my shower leaking through the ceiling?
Usually it's a worn seal around the shower tray, a cracked tray or a loose waste pipe. Stop using the shower and call a plumber to find and fix it.
The leak is from the flat above. What do I do?
Contact your neighbour or the building's managing agent straight away so they can turn off their water. We can attend and fix the source with the owner's permission.
Can you repair the ceiling too?
We stop the leak and make everything safe. Plastering and decorating are best done once the ceiling has dried out, and we can recommend someone.