uk Home & property emergencies

What to do if…
water is entering through your roof, skylight, chimney, or attic during rain

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: 27 July 2026 Last reviewed: 15 August 2026 Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Move people and pets away from the leak, particularly from wet electrical fittings and any bulging, sagging, or cracking ceiling. Do not go onto the roof or enter an unsafe attic during the rain; contain the water only from a safe, dry position and contact the person responsible for emergency repairs. Call 999 if there is fire, smoke, structural collapse, or another immediate danger.

Do not do these things

Do not climb onto the roof or use an outdoor ladder while conditions are wet, windy, dark, or slippery.
Do not go outside to repair roof, skylight, or chimney damage while a storm is continuing.
Do not stand, sit, or sleep beneath a bulging, sagging, cracking, or heavily soaked ceiling.
Do not touch wet switches, sockets, lights, appliances, cables, or water close to electrical equipment.
Do not approach the consumer unit if it is wet or you would need to cross water to reach it.
Do not pierce, push, or pull down a swollen ceiling.
Do not enter the attic if there is standing water, unsafe boarding, exposed wiring, or movement in the roof or ceiling.
Do not attempt electrical repairs yourself.
Do not use candles if the electricity is off; use a battery torch where possible.

What to do now

Move everyone out of the affected area. Keep children and pets away, and avoid the floor beneath wet, bowed, cracked, or falling ceiling material.
Check for electrical danger from a distance. If water is reaching lights, sockets, wiring, appliances, or the consumer unit, do not touch the water or electrical equipment.
Switch off the electricity at the consumer unit only if the unit, the surrounding area, and your route to it are dry and it is safe to do so. If there is water inside the unit, exposed wiring, crackling, arcing, overheating, smoke, or fire, keep away and seek emergency help or advice from a registered electrician as appropriate.
Contain drips only where this can be done safely. Place a bucket or waterproof container beneath the leak if the ceiling is firm, no electrical fittings are nearby, and you do not need to stand beneath damaged material.
Move portable belongings away from the water if you can reach them without approaching wet electrics or an unstable ceiling. Do not move heavy furniture if doing so could place you under the leak.
Contact the responsible repair service. Homeowners can contact a reputable emergency roofer or building maintenance provider. Renters should use their landlord, letting agent, housing association, or council landlord’s emergency repair route and keep a written record of the report.
Explain where the water is appearing, whether the flow is increasing, whether the ceiling is bulging or cracking, and whether any electrical equipment is wet.
Take photographs or a short video from a safe, dry position. Record the affected area and damaged belongings without entering the attic or standing beneath unsafe material.
Contact your home insurer promptly if you have relevant cover. Check whether you have home emergency cover, ask about temporary repairs before arranging them where practical, and keep itemised receipts and photographs.
Check current Met Office warnings. Remain away from the affected area while severe rain or wind continues. If the home cannot be occupied safely, go somewhere safe and contact your insurer, landlord, or housing provider about immediate arrangements.

What can wait

You do not need to identify the precise external entry point while rain is still falling. Permanent repair choices, redecoration, replacement insulation, damp treatment, a full insurance inventory, and decisions about responsibility or payment can wait until the weather has eased and the affected area has been made safe.

Important reassurance

You do not need to solve the entire roof problem during the rain. The immediate priorities are staying away from unstable ceilings and wet electrics, limiting water damage only where it is safe, and alerting the appropriate repair service.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps during active rain. Later inspection, drying, structural assessment, electrical testing, insurance decisions, tenancy issues, and permanent repairs may require qualified contractors or other specialist help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, insurance, electrical, structural, or other professional advice. Follow instructions from the emergency services, your landlord or housing provider, your insurer, and appropriately qualified contractors.

Additional Resources

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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