Updated 9 October 2026 · By Efficient Roofing Ltd
Roof leaking right now? Keep everyone safe, protect the room and get the water caught, then get the roof made watertight. This is the order we tell callers to work in.
1. Make the room safe
If water is coming through near a light fitting, switch that circuit off at the consumer unit. Move furniture and electricals out of the way and put a bucket under the drip. If the ceiling is bulging with water, keep people out of the room.
2. Do not go on the roof
Wet tiles, wind and ladders are how people get hurt. Look from the ground, a window or the loft hatch, never from the roof.
3. Look in the loft if you can do it safely
With a torch, look for wet felt, a damp patch on the boards or daylight. Water runs along rafters, so the wet spot inside is often not right under the hole.
4. Take photos
Photograph the ceiling, the loft and anything you can see from the ground: missing tiles, a hanging gutter, lead lifted at the chimney. Photos help us and your insurer.
5. Ring a roofer
Ring 0118 230 4968. We make the roof watertight first, then give you a written price for the permanent repair.
Questions
Will my insurance cover a leaking roof?
Storm damage is often covered. Wear and tear is not. Photos and a written report from the roofer help either way.
Can a leak wait until after the weekend?
A slow drip into a bucket can wait a short time. Water near electrics or a bulging ceiling cannot. If in doubt, ring.
Get a free quote Emergency roof repairs →