PRACTICAL GUIDE · UPDATED 2026-10-30

An urgent plumbing problem: what to arrange once you are safe

Put emergency help first, then give the right tradesperson a clear description of the repair you need.

Smell gas, suspect a gas leak or suspect carbon monoxide from a natural gas appliance? Get to a safe place and immediately call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999, free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week in Great Britain. Do not wait for a plumber, a landlord, a directory reply or a quote. Avoid flames and electrical switches. Only ventilate or shut off the gas if safe; never enter a cellar or basement to reach the meter.

Suspect carbon monoxide? Go outside and get medical advice; do not return until you have been advised it is safe. After suspected exposure, call 999 for breathing difficulty, sudden confusion, loss of consciousness, weakness, or chest or muscle pain. For other suspected symptoms, call NHS 111 promptly. If there is a fire, get out, stay out and call 999. For an LPG leak, contact your own LPG supplier's emergency service from a safe place.

Once the immediate danger has been dealt with, ask what follow-up work is needed. Cadent describes its emergency attendance as a make-safe service; an internal fault may need a separate Gas Safe registered engineer and further work may cost money. Keep the attendance summary and any warning notice, and pass them to the repair engineer. Leave isolated equipment off and follow the emergency engineer's instructions.

For an urgent water leak once everyone is safe, tell the plumber where water is appearing, whether it is still flowing and what rooms are affected. Avoid the affected area if water is near electrical equipment. Give your postcode and access details, and ask what the initial visit covers. Describe what you can observe without approaching a hazard; you do not need to diagnose the fault.

Your checklist

Deal with immediate danger before gathering photos, checking cover or comparing prices.
Once safe, give the repair firm the address, visible problem and any emergency attendance paperwork.
Confirm whether the job needs a plumber or an appropriately qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.
Ask about attendance charges, diagnosis, parts and the point at which further approval is needed.
Do not restart equipment that has been isolated or declared unsafe.

Sources & further reading

General information, not a property assessment, booking or assurance about a listed business. Dates indicate content updates; they are not invented publication dates.

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