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uk Home & property emergencies shower leaking around screen • water around bath edge • water pooling by tub • shower seal failing • bath sealant cracked • bathroom leak getting worse • water coming from shower tray • water seeping under tiles • shower door leaking • wet floor by shower • leak behind shower wall • water under flooring near bathroom • ceiling stain below bathroom • water dripping through ceiling • stopcock won’t turn • can’t find stopcock • bath overflow not the drain • hidden plumbing leak • rental bathroom leak urgent

What to do if…
water appears around a shower screen or tub edge and seems to be getting worse quickly

Short answer

Stop using the shower/bath and shut off the water supply (or the bathroom/fixture supply if you can) before the leak spreads. If there’s any chance water is reaching electrics (lights, sockets, extractor, ceiling below), keep clear and isolate power only if it’s safe and dry to do so.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t “just take a quick shower” to test it — that often turns a small leak into a soaked floor/wall.
  • Don’t keep mopping and reusing the shower; you can miss water travelling under flooring.
  • Don’t touch switches, lights, shaver sockets, or the consumer unit if you’re wet, standing on a wet floor, or water is near electrics.
  • Don’t force a seized stopcock/stop tap (you can snap it) — use gentle, steady pressure only.
  • Don’t seal over active leaking without drying and identifying the path — you can trap moisture into walls/floors.

What to do now

  1. Create a safe pause. Step out, dry your hands/feet, put on dry footwear, and keep children/pets out of the bathroom.
  2. Stop the water source.
    • First choice: turn off the inside stopcock/stop tap (often under the kitchen sink).
    • If it won’t move, do not force it. If you know where it is, use the outside stop valve (often needs a stopcock key).
    • If you cannot isolate the water quickly, treat this as urgent and call an emergency plumber.
  3. Avoid electrical shock risk.
    • If water is near sockets, the extractor fan, a light fitting, or you see water staining on the ceiling below, avoid using electrics in/near that area.
    • If it’s safe and dry to reach your consumer unit, switch off power to the affected circuit (or the main switch if you can’t identify it). If you would have to step in water or touch wet surfaces to do this, don’t.
  4. Contain and confirm the pattern (without running more water).
    • Put towels along the outside edge of the bath/shower and at the bathroom door threshold.
    • Use a torch to look for water tracking from the bottom of the screen, corners, tap/shower valve area, or the back edge where the bath meets the wall.
    • If there’s a room below, check for new drips, damp patches, or a bulging/staining ceiling (this changes urgency).
  5. Reduce damage while you wait for help.
    • Remove mats and anything stored on the floor; move toiletries off the bath edge if water is splashing out.
    • Ventilate: open a window and leave the door ajar (only if it won’t spread moisture to valuables).
  6. Contact the right person urgently.
    • If you rent: report it to your landlord/agent as an urgent repair. If possible, do it in writing (text/email/portal) and keep a record (screenshots, time/date, who you spoke to). Include: you’ve stopped using the shower, whether water is isolated, and whether there are signs of ceiling/below-room or electrical involvement.
    • If you own: call a plumber if it’s spreading, you can’t isolate the supply, or there are signs of damage below/behind walls. Take photos for any insurance notification.
  7. Document quickly (30 seconds). Take a few photos/video of the water, the area it’s spreading to, and any visible gaps/cracks (useful for landlord/insurer/tradesperson).

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide right now whether it’s “sealant vs plumbing” — treat it as a real leak until proven otherwise.
  • You do not need to re-seal, re-grout, or remove panels/tiles today unless a professional advises it.
  • You do not need to run repeated tests (turning water on/off) — that often worsens hidden saturation.

Important reassurance

Leaks around a bath/shower often look small at the surface but can travel under flooring and into ceilings quickly — stopping use and isolating supply is the right first move.

Scope note

This is first steps only. Fixing the cause (failed seal, loose screen, blocked overflow, cracked tray, pipework leak) may need a plumber or bathroom fitter once the area is safe and stable.

Important note

This is general information for urgent first steps, not professional plumbing or electrical advice. If you suspect water has reached wiring, fittings, or the consumer unit, keep people away from the area and use a qualified professional.

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