The short answer
Catch the water in a bucket, move valuables, and switch off electrics on any circuit where water is near fittings. If a ceiling is bulging, carefully pierce it to drain the water into a bucket. Do not climb on the roof yourself. Take photos for your insurer, then call a roofer to make it safe.
Step by step: the first 30 minutes
- Contain it: buckets, towels and bowls under drips.
- Stay safe: if water is near lights or sockets, turn off that circuit at the consumer unit.
- Relieve pressure: a bulging ceiling can collapse. A small hole at the lowest point lets water drain into a bucket.
- Protect belongings: move furniture, electronics and rugs away.
- Check the loft: if safe, place a container under the entry point and move stored items.
- Document it: photos and video of damage, inside and out, for insurance.
- Call a roofer: ring 07348 481011.
What not to do
Never go up on the roof yourself, especially in wind or rain. Roofs are slippery and falls cause serious injuries. Leave it to insured professionals with proper access equipment.
Why the leak is not always above the drip
Water travels along rafters, felt and pipes before it drips, sometimes a metre or more from where it got in. Common sources include chimney flashings, valleys, slipped tiles, cracked ridge mortar and failed underlay. A proper inspection finds the real entry point.