Leaking roof

I moved house three months ago, but I have only just discovered a leak in the ceiling, since it has barely rained here in Melbourne for the last three months.

The other night was when I discovered my roof had a leak in the dining room. At first, it was one drip every two seconds, then it was one drip every second. I put a bucket under it (which I had only bought a week prior). Having done that, I called the real estate agent and left a message on their voicemail to tell them about the leak. Their office is closed over the Christmas break, but they do have numbers of tradespeople to call in case of urgent repairs. I didn’t think this counted as urgent, so I didn’t pursue this option.

Then the leak got worse. It was now a constant stream. I started to become alarmed. If this continued, I would have to call a tradesperson, because potentially the house could flood every time I go to work. But do I really want to be calling a tradesperson, at 10.30pm on Christmas Eve? I’d rather not.

Then I noticed something else; a second leak, near the window. I grabbed a second bucket. (I only own two, both purchased the week before.) By this stage, the first leak had filled over a quarter of its bucket in an hour. Thank goodness I bought two buckets recently, I thought.

Shortly after this, the leaks died down. I didn’t end up calling a tradesperson. On Christmas Day, when I was at work, it rained again, but the bucket I had ready didn’t collect much water. The second leak didn’t let through any water at all.

The leaks aren’t so bad if I am around to deal with them. But during the next month, I will be going to Sydney for a week. Since I live by myself, the leaks shall have to be fixed by then.