Leaking Roofs and Ceilings: What to Do and What Evidence to Collect

A leaking roof or ceiling never feels “minor”. It’s loud, stressful, and it can quickly turn into damp, mould, damaged electrics, and ruined belongings. If you rent from a council or housing association, you shouldn’t be left living with water coming through the ceiling — and you don’t need to guess what to do next.

Leaks are also one of the most common housing disrepair problems renters report in the UK. In a 2023 rented housing disrepair survey, 26% of renters said they’d experienced a roof leak and 26% reported a water leak.

Below is a simple, step-by-step plan to protect your home, protect your health, and collect the evidence you’ll need if your landlord keeps dragging their feet.

First things first: make it safe (today)

If water is actively coming in, focus on safety before anything else.

1) Watch out for electrics

Water and electricity are a dangerous mix. If you notice water near:

• light fittings

• sockets

• a fuse box

• or ceiling lights that are flickering

…don’t touch them. Turn off power at the consumer unit if it’s safe to do so, and keep everyone away from the area.

2) Contain the leak and reduce damage

You’re not responsible for fixing the roof — but you are allowed to protect your belongings:

• Put buckets or bowls under drips

• Move furniture and valuables

• Use towels to stop water spreading

• If safe, poke a small hole in a sagging “bubble” of plaster only if you’re at risk of a collapse (and record it on video first)

3) Ventilate (when you can)

Once the immediate leak is controlled, reduce moisture:

• open windows (even a crack helps)

• keep internal doors open for airflow

• use extractor fans if they work

This matters because dampness can follow quickly. UK housing data also links disrepair and damp issues in a way that often overlaps with leaks.

Report it properly (and don’t rely on phone calls alone)

You want a paper trail from day 1.

1) Report the leak in writing

Use your landlord’s official repair route (online portal/email). If you call, follow up with a message saying:

• the date/time you called

• who you spoke to

• what they said would happen next

If you’re a council or housing association tenant and you’re dealing with ongoing issues like leaks, damp, mould, unsafe electrics, or broken heating, start here: Housing Disrepair Claims.

2) Be clear and specific

Instead of “ceiling leak”, say:

• “Water is coming through the ceiling in the bedroom near the light fitting”

• “Plaster is bulging and cracking”

• “Leak worsens when it rains”

• “Carpets and bedding are soaked”

Specific details reduce the chances they mark it as “non-urgent”.

The evidence to collect (this is what wins cases)

If the leak isn’t fixed quickly, evidence becomes everything. The goal is simple: show what happened, how long it lasted, how it affected you, and what your landlord did (or didn’t) do.

1) Photos and videos (with dates)

Take:

• wide shots showing the full room

• close-ups of the leak point

• ceiling cracks, stains, and bulges

• any mould growth that appears later

• wet belongings, warped flooring, swollen skirting boards

Tip: include a phone screenshot of the day’s date in the frame, or use timestamped images.

2) A leak diary (2 minutes a day)

Keep notes of:

• when the leak started

• when it gets worse (e.g., rainfall)

• what rooms are affected

• smells (musty odour is common)

• any health symptoms (coughing, wheezing, headaches)

• missed work/school, disrupted sleep

This doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be consistent.

3) Copies of every report and response

Save:

• emails, portal submissions, screenshots

• repair reference numbers

• appointment dates (and no-shows)

• letters

If you ever need to show delays, this is your timeline.

4) Evidence of damage to your belongings

If items are ruined, keep:

• photos of damage

• receipts/bank statements (if you have them)

• repair quotes or replacement costs

• pictures before you throw anything away

5) Independent evidence (if you can get it)

If someone visits (contractor, surveyor, environmental health), ask for:

• written notes

• inspection reports

• job sheets

If you have to buy dehumidifiers, extra heating, cleaning products, or mould spray because of the leak, keep the receipts too.

What if your landlord says “it’s condensation” (but it’s clearly a leak)?

This happens a lot. But roof/ceiling leaks are widely reported in UK disrepair complaints, and they’re not the same as “you didn’t ventilate enough”.

If the leak worsens when it rains, appears in a specific ceiling area, or causes staining that spreads — keep documenting that pattern. Videos during rainfall are especially useful.

When a leak becomes a bigger claim

A leak can start as a drip and end up causing:

• mould and damp

• damaged plaster/ceilings

• ruined flooring

• unsafe electrics

• health issues

And this isn’t rare UK housing data shows damp issues affect a meaningful number of households, and disrepair is often part of the picture.

If you’re stuck in the cycle of reporting, waiting, and getting ignored, it’s worth getting help from specialists who deal with landlords all the time.

You can also explore Claim First’s wider service options here: Services.

How Claim First can help (without adding stress)

When you’re living under a leaking ceiling, the last thing you want is paperwork and back-and-forth.

Claim First’s approach is built around keeping things simple: you share the details, you upload your photos, and the legal team handles the hard part.

If you want to see how the process works and what tenants commonly ask, start with the FAQ’s or read real outcomes on Testimonials.

And if you’re ready to speak to someone, go straight to Contact us.

(If you’re also dealing with other types of claims, Claim First covers areas like Mis-sold finance claims, Payday Loan Refunds, and Scam Recovery too.)

FAQs

Can I be evicted for complaining about a leaking roof?

If you’re a council or housing association tenant, reporting disrepair is a normal part of your rights as a tenant. The key is to keep everything in writing and build a clear timeline of reports and responses. If you’re worried about how it might affect your tenancy, the safest move is to get advice early and keep communication calm, factual, and consistent.

Should I keep paying rent if my ceiling is leaking?

Stopping rent payments can backfire and may put you at risk of arrears. It’s usually better to keep paying rent and focus on reporting, documenting, and escalating properly. If the situation is severe and ongoing, get legal advice before changing payments.

What if the landlord “repairs” it but the leak comes back?

This is common with patch jobs. Keep recording every recurrence, including the dates it returns and the damage it causes. Repeat issues help show the repair wasn’t effective and that the underlying problem hasn’t been properly fixed.

Do I need professional photos or a surveyor report?

Not always. Clear, consistent photos/videos plus written reports and a simple diary can be enough to show what’s happening. If a surveyor or contractor does attend, ask for written notes or job sheets — they can strengthen your evidence.

How long should I wait before getting help?

If the leak is serious, affecting electrics, causing ceiling bulging, or damaging your home, you shouldn’t be waiting months. Even where landlords have repair processes, repeated delays or no-shows are a red flag and that’s when having a specialist team step in can make a real difference.

Ready to stop living with a leak?

If your landlord isn’t taking your leaking roof or ceiling seriously, you don’t have to just “put up with it”. Start gathering evidence today, keep everything in writing, and get support before the damage (and stress) piles up.

Start here: Housing Disrepair Claims or if you want to speak to the team directly, use Contact us.