The rotational spectrum of the chloropentafluoroethane-water complex has been investigated by pulsed jet Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Experimental rotational and quadrupole coupling constants of five isotopologues imply that the two subunits are held together by an almost linear C-Cl⋯O halogen bond. Water lies effectively in the symmetric plane of C2F5Cl and undergoes a plausible free internal rotation. The experimental structure and dissociation energies of the complex are also deduced.