What to do when you have a roof leak in Mexico City

Roof leaks are one of the most common home repair problems in Mexico City, particularly during the rainy season from May to October. If you're an expat dealing with a leak for the first time here, the process for getting it fixed is a little different from what you might expect.

First: is it a roof leak or a plumbing leak?

Not every wet ceiling is a roof leak. If the moisture appears during or after rain, it's almost certainly coming from the azotea (flat roof). If it appears regardless of rain, it's more likely a plumbing leak from above — a pipe, a connection, or a drain from the apartment or space above you.

If you rent your apartment

In Mexico, structural issues like roof waterproofing are technically the landlord's responsibility. However, if you need it fixed quickly (which you usually do, before the next rainstorm), it's sometimes faster to arrange the repair yourself and deduct it from rent — with prior written agreement from your landlord. Get that agreement on WhatsApp so you have a record.

What actually fixes a roof leak

In Mexico City, most flat roofs (azoteas) are sealed with an impermeabilizante — a waterproofing membrane applied directly to the concrete surface. Over time it cracks, bubbles and degrades. Patching only the visible crack rarely works permanently — the standard approach is to clean the surface, repair cracks, and apply a fresh coat of impermeabilizante to the whole affected area.

Can it be fixed while it's raining?

No — waterproofing materials need a dry surface to bond correctly. Emergency patches (epoxy sealant over a visible crack) can slow the leak temporarily, but the proper repair has to wait until the surface dries. That's why it's better to fix it before the rainy season than during it. See our waterproofing service →