What to Do If Your Ceiling Is Leaking
Step by step: how to stop the damage, report it, and sort your insurance.
Water coming through your ceiling needs to be dealt with quickly. The faster you act, the less damage you’ll end up with. Here’s exactly what to do, in order.
At a glance
- Find and stop the water source as quickly as possible
- Move valuables out of the affected area and contain the water with buckets and towels
- If you’re renting, report the leak to your landlord in writing straight away
- Document all damage with photos and video before clearing up
- Check your contents insurance for damaged belongings and your landlord’s buildings insurance for structural damage
Step 1: Stop the water source
Work out where the water is coming from. Common causes include an overflowing bath or shower, a burst pipe, a leaking washing machine, or water coming through from a flat above.
If it’s something you can control, such as a tap left running or an appliance that’s overflowing, turn it off immediately. If you can’t identify the source, turn off the water supply at the stopcock to stop more water entering the system. Our guide on what to do if a pipe bursts covers this in more detail.
Step 2: Protect your belongings
Move furniture, electronics, and valuables away from the affected area. Place buckets or bowls under drips and use towels to absorb water from the floor. If the leak is significant, clear the surrounding area as thoroughly as you can.
The faster you dry things out, the less secondary damage you’ll face. Mould can begin to develop within 24 to 48 hours in damp conditions, so don’t leave wet items in place once the immediate situation is under control.
Step 3: Report it to your landlord
If you’re renting, contact your landlord or letting agent as soon as possible and report the issue in writing. Include:
- A clear description of where the leak is and how long it’s been active
- Photos or video of the damage
- The date and time you first noticed it
Written reports create a timestamp and protect you if there’s any dispute later about when you reported the problem or how quickly your landlord responded. Our guide on how long landlords have to fix problems covers what response times you can reasonably expect.
If the leak is coming from the flat above, let your neighbour know as well. They may not be aware of the problem. Your landlord or the building’s managing agent may need to get involved if it requires access to another property to fix.
Step 4: Call a professional if needed
If your landlord or letting agent is unreachable and the situation is getting worse, contact an emergency plumber. Many offer 24-hour call-out services. Keep receipts for any work you authorise, as your landlord may be able to reimburse you for reasonable emergency costs, particularly if the delay in reaching them caused further damage.
For homeowners, contact a qualified plumber directly. If you have home emergency cover as part of your home insurance, use it. This add-on covers emergency call-out costs for sudden plumbing failures and can save you a significant amount on out-of-hours rates.
Step 5: Document the damage
Before you start clearing up, photograph and video everything. Capture:
- The source of the leak if visible
- The ceiling damage and any water staining or structural concerns
- All affected belongings, including close-up shots of damaged items
- The wider area to show the extent of the water spread
Include timestamps where possible. This documentation is essential if you need to make an insurance claim. Our guide on how to document belongings for insurance explains what to capture and how to do it in a way that supports your claim.
Step 6: Check your insurance
Two types of insurance may be relevant depending on your situation:
- Contents insurance covers your personal belongings, furniture, and electronics if they’ve been damaged by the water. If you have accidental damage cover as an add-on, this may also apply. Contact your insurer with your documentation and a description of what happened.
- Buildings insurance covers structural damage to the property itself, including the ceiling, walls, and flooring. If you’re a renter, this is your landlord’s responsibility to claim. If you’re a homeowner, contact your own buildings insurer.
With Lemonade’s contents insurance, water damage to your belongings from a covered event is included. You can start a claim through the app at any time. Our guide on making an insurance claim explains the full process.
Before we go
A leaking ceiling is stressful, but acting quickly limits the damage. Stop the water, protect your belongings, report it in writing, and document everything before you start clearing up. The sooner you act, the simpler the situation becomes.
And if your contents insurance isn’t in place yet, it’s worth sorting before you need it.
Ceiling leak FAQs
What should I do if water is coming from my upstairs neighbour?
Let your neighbour know straight away, as they may not be aware of the problem. If you’re renting, also report it to your landlord or the building’s managing agent, as accessing another property to carry out repairs will require their involvement. Document the damage in your flat and report it in writing to your landlord as soon as possible.
Can I claim insurance for water-damaged items?
Yes, if you have contents insurance and the damage was caused by a covered event such as a burst pipe or escape of water. Check your policy to confirm what’s included and what the excess is before making a claim. If you’ve added accidental damage cover, this may extend your protection further.
When should I call an emergency plumber?
Call an emergency plumber if you can’t stop the source of the leak yourself, if the water is spreading quickly, or if your landlord is unreachable and the situation is getting worse. Keep receipts for any work carried out so you can seek reimbursement if appropriate. If you have home emergency cover, use it rather than calling a plumber independently, as this will typically cover call-out costs.
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