Leak Detection for Real Estate Agents and Property Managers

Why use a leak detection specialist rather than a general plumber?

A general plumber can fix a leak once it's found. Finding a hidden leak is a different job. Leaks behind tiles, under slabs, inside walls or through balcony membranes often show up metres from where the water is getting in. Without the right equipment, the usual result is exploratory demolition, a second callout or a repair that doesn't stop the leak, and the landlord pays for all of it.

How we find it without opening things up

Our technicians use pressure testing, electro-acoustic listening, thermal imaging, moisture mapping, tracer gas and UV dye to pinpoint the source first, so any repair is one small opening in the right place.

Read more: Leak detection specialist or plumber: who should you call first?

Leaks we find in rental properties

Showers and bathrooms

Damp skirting, lifting tiles and stains in the room or unit below. We test the shower, waste and waterproofing separately so the landlord only pays for the repair that's needed.

Hidden pipe leaks and high water bills

A meter that moves with every tap off, a renter reporting a high bill or a wet floor. We pressure test and pinpoint leaks in walls, slabs and underground pipes.

Roofs, balconies and storm leaks

Ceiling stains after rain and balconies leaking into the unit below. We find the entry point and report which part failed, for the landlord or the body corporate.

How much does leak detection cost for a rental property?

Prices are fixed, so you can get landlord approval before we attend. Repairs are quoted separately. See all prices.

How it works for real estate agents

1. Send the work order
   Email admin@1300findleak.com.au with the address, renter contact details and any photos, or use our work order portal.
2. We book access with the renter
   Our office contacts the renter directly and confirms a time. You're copied in.
3. We find the leak
   A licensed technician pinpoints the source with non-invasive equipment and identifies the cause.
4. You get the report
   Findings, photos, thermal images and repair recommendations, ready to forward to the landlord or insurer. Invoiced to your account on 30-day terms with the work order number.

Urgent leaks and rental law

We offer same-day service for urgent leaks, and our emergency line, 1300 346 353, is answered 24/7. Speed matters for property managers: in Victoria a burst water service, a serious roof leak, a gas leak and flooding are urgent repairs, and if the rental provider doesn't act quickly the renter can arrange the repair themselves up to $2,500 and must be reimbursed within 7 days. NSW and Queensland have similar urgent repair rules. Getting a specialist in on the same day keeps the repair under your control and gives you a documented record of the response.

What's in the leak detection report?

Each job comes with a written report you can send to the landlord, the insurer or the repairing trade. It shows where the leak is and what's causing it, with photos, thermal images and test readings as evidence; defects found, with reference to the National Construction Code and Australian Standards such as AS 3500 (plumbing) and AS 4654 (waterproofing) where relevant; and the recommended repairs and scope of work. Landlords approve repairs faster when they can see the evidence, and insurers generally need a documented cause before they assess a claim. Read more about our reports.

Agencies and body corporates we work with

Our clients include Ray White, LJ Hooker, Harcourts, Raine & Horne, Biggin & Scott, Hocking Stuart, Buxton, Hodges and Little Real Estate, as well as body corporate and strata managers such as ACE Body Corporate Management and Body Corporate Strata Group. We complete more than 5,000 leak detection jobs a year.

Property manager FAQs