Emergency plumber in Kensington and Chelsea

A basement or lower ground flat sits below the street and below the drain run. If a drain or sewer backs up, water goes to the lowest exit, which is a basement toilet, shower or floor gully. Basement extensions under gardens often rely on pumps to lift waste up to the sewer. When a pump fails, or the power to it trips, waste can back up quickly.

Thames Water has fitted flood protection, including non return valves, in some flood prone properties in this area, according to its response to a Kensington and Chelsea scrutiny committee. If sewage comes in during heavy rain, report it to Thames Water's sewer flooding service. If it happens on a dry day, a blockage or a failed pump is more likely, and that needs a plumber or drainage engineer.

In an Earl's Court or South Kensington conversion, five or six flats may share one water supply and one soil stack. Bathrooms were added where they fitted, often over someone else's bedroom. Ceilings are tall and heavy, so a soaked ceiling is a real hazard. If a ceiling is bulging, keep out from under it. If water is coming through a light, switch off at the consumer unit.

Find the source by working upwards. If the flat above is a short let or empty, the managing agent usually has a power under the lease to get access. The Leasehold Advisory Service says each leaseholder is usually responsible for their own pipes and appliances and the freeholder for communal pipes and structure.

Earl's Court and parts of South Kensington have a lot of short lets and pied a terre flats where nobody is home for weeks. A slow leak in an empty flat can do a great deal of damage before anyone notices. If you own a flat that is often empty, have the stop tap turned off when you leave and make sure the managing agent has a key or a contact.

Chelsea's mansion blocks often have communal hot water and roof tanks feeding cold water down through the building. A fault in the tank or the plant room affects everyone, and is the building's to fix. A leak from the pipework serving only your flat is usually yours. Your porter or managing agent will know which contractor looks after the shared plant.