What to do if…
a window will not close and cold air or rain is coming in

What to do now

1. Make the area safe.
   Keep children and pets away. Move furniture, chargers, extension leads, and anything electrical away from the wet or draughty area. Put towels or a container down to catch water if it is safe to do so.

2. If water is near electrics, step back.
   If water is entering a socket, switch, light fitting, extension lead, or appliance, do not touch the wet area. If you can reach the consumer unit safely with dry hands and a dry floor, switch off the affected circuit or the main switch. If the consumer unit or the route to it is wet, keep away and get urgent help.

3. Try only the simplest no-force check.
   Look for an obvious obstruction such as grit, a loose blind, a trapped curtain, or a stuck catch. For a casement or uPVC window, gently press the opening part into the frame while turning the handle once. For a sash window, check whether a catch or lock is partly engaged. Stop if anything resists.

4. Block rain from inside.
   Tape a plastic sheet, bin liner, or thick bag over the gap from the inside, fixing it to the frame or wall rather than the glass if that holds better. Keep the plastic and tape clear of sockets, heaters, lamps, flames, and hot surfaces.

5. Block cold air from inside.
   Roll towels, clothes, or a blanket into a tight draught stopper and wedge it along the bottom or side gap. Close the internal door to the room to keep the rest of the home warmer.

6. Reduce the security risk.
   Move valuables out of view and keep the internal door closed. If it is a sliding window or door, a rigid bar or dowel placed inside the track can help stop it opening further. Do not drill, screw, or alter the frame if you rent unless the responsible repair service tells you to.

7. Report it now.
   If you rent, contact your landlord, letting agent, council repairs service, housing association, or building manager in writing and by phone if rain, cold, or security is an immediate problem. Say: “The window will not close; cold air or rain is coming in; there may be a security risk; please treat this as an urgent repair.”

8. Record the basics.
   Take photos of the gap, water entry, handle, hinge, catch, and any wet area. Note the time you reported it and who you contacted.

9. Escalate if the home is becoming unsafe.
   If there is ongoing water entry, a serious cold risk, an electrical hazard, or an unsecured accessible window and you are not getting a response, use your local council’s housing or environmental health route, or your social landlord’s emergency repairs route. If there is immediate danger, call 999.