Out of hours and night plumber in London
Out of hours plumber in London
An out of hours plumber deals with plumbing problems at night, at weekends and on bank holidays that cannot wait: water you cannot stop, leaks into electrics or another flat, sewage backing up, or no working toilet or water. If you can turn the water off and contain it, many jobs can wait for a daytime visit.
Out of hours and night plumber: tap what is happening
You see what to do right now, then send it through.
- 01Right now
- 02Your home
- 03Call back
Right now
What is happening right now?
Right now
Is the water off at the stop tap?
Your home
Where is it?
Your home
What is the postcode?
So the right engineer for your area picks it up.
Call back
Send it through now
Keep the water off at the stop tap while you wait. Your details go straight through so someone can ring you back.
You need this when
If any of these is happening now, turn the water off at the stop tap first.
Out of hours and night plumber
- Water is still escaping after you have tried the stop tap
- A leak is reaching sockets, lights or the flat below
- Sewage is backing up into the home
- You have no working toilet in the property
- You have no water and someone vulnerable lives with you
Step by step
What happens from the first message to the written note at the end.
- 1
Is it really urgent?
We ask a few questions. If the water is off and contained, we may suggest a first thing visit, which usually costs less than a night call.
- 2
Make it safe now
We talk you through the stop tap, electrics and containing the water while you wait.
- 3
Attend and make safe
At night the aim is to stop the water and make the home safe and usable. A full repair may follow in daylight.
- 4
Plan the permanent fix
We tell you what is needed next, the price, and who you may need to involve, such as a landlord or freeholder.
What counts as an out of hours emergency
A night or weekend call is worth it when waiting would cause damage or put people at risk. That means water you cannot stop, water reaching electrics or another flat, sewage in the home, a ceiling that is bulging, no water at all, or no working toilet, especially with children, elderly or disabled people in the home.
A dripping tap, a slow drain, a toilet that runs but does not overflow, or a leak you have stopped at the stop tap can usually wait. The cheapest emergency is the one you can safely turn into a booked job the next morning. If you are not sure which side of the line you are on, tell us what you can see and we will say honestly whether it needs a night visit.
Renting? Call your landlord's emergency line first
If you rent, your landlord is responsible for keeping water supply, sanitation, heating and hot water installations in repair under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. Many letting agents and housing associations in London have an out of hours repairs line. Use it first, then follow up in writing. Thames Water also advises tenants to tell the landlord about leaks in writing and keep a copy.
If you cannot reach anyone and water is causing damage, make it safe, take photos, keep receipts and tell the landlord as soon as you can.
Leaseholders and the managing agent
In a block, the managing agent often has an emergency contractor and an out of hours number, usually on a notice in the entrance hall or on the service charge paperwork. If the problem is in a communal pipe, tank or pump, that is usually the freeholder's responsibility, so the managing agent should arrange the repair. If the leak is from a flat where nobody is in, the managing agent usually has the right under the lease to get access.
Before anyone comes out at night
Ask for the price to be confirmed once the plumber has seen the job, before any further work. Ask what the night visit will cover, whether it is making safe or a full repair. Ask for a written note of the cause and work. Any gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, so ask to see their ID card and check it on the Gas Safe Register.
The faster a plumber understands the job, the faster it gets sorted. Have your postcode, building type and floor ready. Know whether you have turned the water off and where. Say whether the water is clean or dirty, and whether it is reaching electrics or another flat. If you can, take a photo of the leak and of your stop tap. If you need a door code, a concierge or parking in a controlled zone, say so when you call. In many inner London streets parking and access are what slow a night visit down most.
No prices online
Every job is priced after a look at it, by photo or a visit, and agreed before work starts.
What affects the price
Night, weekend and bank holiday work usually costs more than a daytime visit. The time, how long the job takes and the parts needed all count. We tell you before any further work starts.
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Night or weekend attendance and making safe | price confirmed after a look at the job |
| Full repair on the same visit | price confirmed after a look at the job |
| Follow up repair booked in daytime | quote on survey |
No prices are shown on this site. Every job is priced after a look at it, by photo or a visit.
Asked questions
Is it cheaper to wait until morning?
Usually yes, if the water is off and the leak is contained. If waiting would cause more damage, it is not worth the risk.
My landlord is not answering. Can I call a plumber?
In a real emergency, make it safe first and keep records. Read your tenancy agreement, tell the landlord in writing as soon as possible and keep receipts.
What should I do with no water overnight?
Check if it is a Thames Water outage. If it is, Thames Water's priority services register may help vulnerable customers. If only your home is affected, we can look at it.
Will the night visit fix everything?
Often, if parts and access allow. Otherwise the plumber makes it safe and comes back for the full repair.
Out of hours and night plumber across London
Send it through
Describe what is happening in a sentence. A photo helps if you can text one later.