Home emergencies can happen anytime, leaving you without electricity, heating, or water. If you don’t have home insurance or can’t add home emergency cover to an existing policy, a standalone plan could put your mind at ease since you’ll know who to call for assistance if something unexpected occurs. Independent insurance providers, utility companies, banks, and other companies offer home emergency cover, and we outline the best plans from the top providers below.
Hometree Home Care Plans From 67p per Day
YourRepair Home Emergency Plans From £14 per Month
The table below gives a quick comparison of the best UK home emergency plans.
* Indicates a call-out charge rather than excess.
We obtained the figures above from each company’s website in March 2022. Companies may change their prices and product offerings at any time. If you request a quote from a provider, the quote you receive may differ from the prices outlined above. You should always read through the full terms and conditions before purchasing any insurance product or maintenance plan.
Please note that this guide is for your information only. HouseholdQuotes does not recommend any particular insurance product or maintenance plan, and the order in which companies appear on this page does not indicate that one product or service is potentially more suitable than another.
We have affiliate relationships with Hometree, YourRepair, and 24|7 Home Rescue. If you decide to purchase a product from one of our affiliate partners, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Featured: Hometree
Hometree Home Care Plans From 67p per Day
Some of the features and benefits of Hometree’s care plan.
- Care package for boiler and central heating
- Plumbing, drains, and home electrics also included
- £95 excess
- Unlimited call-outs
- Parts and labour included in plan
- New customers save 25% on average
Hometree offers home emergency care for £19.95 per month, plus an excess of £95 per claim.
Hometree’s boiler maintenance plan includes your gas boiler (including the flue and controls) and gas supply pipe. The company offers new and existing customers an annual boiler service. If your boiler breaks down and can’t be repaired, Hometree will give you up to 15% towards the cost of purchasing a replacement (so long as the company installs it).
Their care plan also extends to your central heating system, including standard radiators, cylinders, and pipes. Furthermore, Hometree ensures that your plumbing and water supply pipes are adequately maintained, and it will unblock your drains and waste pipes if they become blocked. Their Home plan also includes your mains electrical system, from the light fittings and the fuse box to the circuits.
If a problem does occur, Hometree has an emergency call centre that’s open 24-hours a day.
Of course, certain exclusions apply. Hometree won’t remove or repair any damage caused by limescale or sludge. The company also won’t repair plumbing issues affecting your shower, taps, or toilet, nor will Hometree investigate any outdoor electrical or heating problems.
For added protection, you can choose to purchase gas fire protection for an additional monthly (or annual) fee.
To learn more about Hometree, visit our detailed profile page, or see their Hometree website
2. YourRepair
Some of the features and benefits of YourRepair’s home emergency maintenance plan.
- Boiler, central heating, electrics, and plumbing maintenance
- Annual boiler service included
- £60 call-out charge
- Unlimited call-outs
- Parts and labour included
- Option to maintain monthly price for up to three years
YourRepair has a non-insured home emergency maintenance plan available from £16 per month, not including a £60 charge that you must pay when you book a call-out.
YourRepair’s Heating and Home Plan 3 includes maintenance for your boiler, central heating system, and the gas supply pipe. This includes problems affecting your boiler and its controls, your radiators, and the internal gas pipe that provides gas to the various appliances in your home. YourRepair maintains boilers of any age and conducts an annual boiler service to keep your system in top condition. The service includes a complementary carbon monoxide test to keep your family safe.
Their Heating and Home Plan 3 also extends to the hot and cold water pipes inside your home, so you’ll be protected in the event of a leak. YourRepair can also send an electrician to fix with your mains wiring, fuse board, circuit breakers, plugs, and sockets so you won’t be left in the dark.
However, the Home and Heating Plan 3 doesn’t include every problem you may encounter in your home. For instance, YourRepair won’t fix problems attributed to normal wear and tear, and it won’t send out an engineer to balance your radiators or replace your fuse board.
Fortunately, YourRepair allows you to request as many call-outs as you need each year. The company also includes parts and labour in their maintenance plan. What’s more, if you switch from another home emergency plan, the company will waive its standard exclusion period.
If you purchase a home emergency plan through YourRepair, you can choose to lock-in the monthly premium for up to three years, for an additional monthly fee. The company also offers more comprehensive plans for customers who want protection against plumbing, home security, and pest control issues (at an extra cost).
YourRepair Home Emergency Plans From £14 per Month
3. 24|7 Home Rescue
Some of the features and benefits of 24|7 Home Rescue’s home emergency plan.
- Boiler, heating, and drainage cover
- Electrical, home security, and pest control also included
- 30-day rolling contract
- £95 excess fee per claim
- Unlimited boiler and central heating claims
- Unlimted claims
24|7 Home Rescue’s Home Care plan gives you peace of mind for £12.99 per month, plus an excess of £95. Their cover plan operates on a 30-day rolling contract, so you don’t have to make a long-term commitment.
The Home Care plan is comprehensive and includes boiler breakdown, an annual boiler service, as well as cover for your central heating system and internal and external plumbing and drains. Electrical emergencies, home security issues (including lost keys), and pest control problems are also included. The Home Care plan will also pay for all parts and labour required to fix any breakdowns or problems in your home.
However, 24|7 Home Rescue’s Home Care plan doesn’t extend general maintenance problems such as adjusting boiler pressure, removing fat or oil deposits from your drains, or changing lightbulbs. The company also won’t remedy any drainage issues affecting your gutters or roof, and it won’t replace your fuse box (also known as the consumer unit) if it needs attention. Pest control is limited to infestations from mice, rats, wasps, and hornets.
Fortunately, the company allows unlimited call-outs, which can be booked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through their UK-based helpline, their website, or mobile app. There’s no limit on the number of call-outs you can request if your boiler breaks down, as long as the boiler is not Beyond Economical Repair.
On top of that, 24|7 Home Rescue imposes no limit on the value of claims related to your boiler and central heating system—provided that your boiler is in good working order and not Beyond Economical Repair. There is a £1,000 limit for each claim related to plumbing, drainage, home security, and pest control issues.
24|7 are now authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
24|7 Home Rescue Boiler Cover From £4.49 Per Month
4. Nova Direct
Some of the features and benefits of Nova Direct’s home emergency plan.
- Heating and electrical cover included
- Cover for plumbing, drainage, and security also offered
- £100 excess
- £500 claims maximum
- 30-day exclusion period for claims
- 24/7 claims helpline
Nova Direct has home emergency plans available from just £4.58 per month, with an excess of £75 per claim.
Their Gold plan includes cover for your primary heating system and hot water. However, the plan excludes boiler breakdown cover. If your heating fails, Nova Direct can arrange for an engineer to provide a temporary solution. Still, you must pay the full cost of any boiler repairs or replacements. The company also only covers a maximum of one heating system failure per year.
Nova Direct includes cover for your electrical supply, so you can get help if you experience an unexpected power failure throughout your home. The Gold plan excludes partial outages that only affect some lights or plugs, as well as any problems in the electrical supply that feeds the fuse board (or consumer box).
The company also offers assistance with plumbing and drainage problems, such as those which contribute to flooding, leaks, or water damage. The plan includes plumbing and drainage issues that cause your toilet to become unusable. However, the policy excludes general maintenance problems such as leaking taps, broken toilet cisterns, and frozen pipes, among others.
Usefully, Nova Direct’s Gold plan also covers security issues such as damaged door and window locks. If you lose the only key to your front door, the company can also arrange a replacement and cover the cost of the new key.
Nova Direct only pays a maximum of £500 per claim, and there is a 30-day exclusion period for all claims. You must also prove that you have serviced your boiler annually to be eligible for cover. If you need to make a claim, Nova Direct operates a call centre that’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you’d prefer cover that includes an annual boiler service, you may wish to consider Nova Direct’s Platinum policy, which comes at an additional monthly cost.
To learn more about Nova Direct, visit our detailed profile page, or see their website.
5. Protect Your Things
Some of the features and benefits of Protect Your Things’s home emergency plan.
- Comprehensive cover for gas, central heating, and electrics
- Plumbing, home security, roofing, and pest control also included
- No excess or call-out charges
- Unlimited claims
- Up to £1,000 paid out per claim
- 85% of problems fixed on first visit
Protect Your Things offers you comprehensive home emergency cover for £60 per year, which works out to just £5 per month. Uniquely, the company charges absolutely no excess or call-out fees.
The policy includes breakdown cover for your gas boiler and central heating systems. The company covers boilers of any age—provided that it is regularly serviced. If your boiler fails and an engineer determines that it’s Beyond Economical Repair, Protect Your Things may give you up to £500 towards a replacement.
Similarly, Protect Your Things covers complete electrical system failures, plumbing leaks and blockages, as well as damage to windows, locks, and roofs. The policy even extends to infestations by mice, rats, hornets, and wasps.
What’s more, if the emergency makes your home uninhabitable, the company will give you up to £250 towards overnight accommodation so that you and your family remain safe.
Protect Your Things doesn’t limit the number of claims you can make each year. However, it won’t pay out more than £1,000 per claim. Since the company offers breakdown cover, the policy excludes some general maintenance and non-emergency issues. For instance, the company doesn’t cover problems that affect one electrical socket. Likewise, it won’t cover a leaking faucet or shower if the leak only occurs when the tap or shower is on.
The company has a claims line that’s open 24-hours a day, 7 days a week and their network of engineers and contractors fix 85% of problems on the first visit. The company is also keen to offer affordable cover by not charging broker fees or paying for expensive adverts.
To learn more about Protect Your Things, visit our detailed profile page, or see their website.
6. Row.co.uk
Some of the features and benefits of Row.co.uk’s home emergency cover.
- Boiler and gas supply cover
- Includes plumbing, drains, and water supply cover
- Roof, home security, and pest protection also included
- Multiple claims permitted
- £2,500 claims value limit and £5,000 annual claims limit
- UK-based claims line open 24-hours
Row.co.uk has a home emergency plan available for purchase for £5.07 per month, not including a £95 excess fee that you have to pay for each claim.
The company’s plan includes cover for your gas boiler and supply pipe. Row.co.uk protects boilers up to 15 years of age, so you’ll have some peace of mind even if your boiler is less than new. If your boiler suffers a complete breakdown and is Beyond Economical Repair, Row.co.uk will organise a like-for-like replacement if it’s less than six years old. Otherwise, the company will contribute up to £250 towards a replacement if your boiler is more than six years old.
Usefully, Row.co.uk also includes cover for your plumbing, drains, and water supply. This encompasses problems such as a broken toilet (if it’s the only toilet in the house), taps and showers that are causing floods, and faulty stopcocks.
Row.co.uk goes further by including protection for your roof. For example, if a storm damages your roof, Row.co.uk can arrange for a tradesperson to cover the roof with a tarpaulin until they find a more permanent solution. The policy also extends to pests such as mice, rats, hornets, wasps, and even cockroaches and nests.
As a customer, you can make multiple claims, although the company doesn’t explicitly say whether it allows unlimited claims.
To learn more about Row.co.uk, visit our detailed profile page, or see their website.
7. Coversure
Some of the features and benefits of Coversure’s home emergency plan.
- Central heating and electrics cover
- Up to £750 towards call-out charges, parts, and labour
- Maximum of £100 for overnight accommodation
- Repairs are guaranteed
- Large network of approved tradespeople
- 24-hour emergency assistance available
Coversure offers emergency cover for your home for £5.58 per month or £67 per year. It’s unclear whether you’ll have to pay any excess or call-out charges on top of your monthly premiums.
The company’s policy includes protection for your central heating and electrics. Coversure may give you up to £750 towards the cost of any call-out charges, parts, and labour required to repair the fault. If your home becomes unsafe because of the problem in question, the firm could contribute up to £100 towards overnight accommodation.
Coversure has an extensive network of tradespeople whom it can despatch whenever you need help. To request assistance, all you need to do is ring the emergency line which is open 24-hours a day. It also has a non-emergency line that you can call for advice any time during the day or night.
While Coversure’s plan seems to have several benefits, we couldn’t find any information about whether its home emergency policy extends to other areas of your house, such as your gas boiler, plumbing, and drains. We were also unable to determine what issues the plan includes and excludes.
Coversure doesn’t publicly say whether it charges an excess per claim, or if there’s a limit on the number or value of claims you can make. If you choose to contact them for further information about their plan, we encourage you to ask about these potential charges and limitations.
To learn more about Coversure, visit our detailed profile page, or see their website.
8. Home Emergency Assist
Some of the features and benefits of Home Emergency Assist’s cover.
- Emergency cover for gas, central heating, and electrics
- £95 excess payable per claim
- Unlimited claims but £1,000 claim limit
- No more than £3,000 paid out per year
- Dedicated UK-based call centre open all year
- Annual boiler service included
As the name suggests, Home Emergency Assist offers emergency cover for your home from £5.93 per month, plus a £60 excess fee. The company offers a 30-day price match promise, so if you find another company offering the same cover for less, Home Emergency Assist will match that price and refund you the difference.
Home Emergency Assist’s ‘enhanced’ boiler, heating, and electrics plan covers your gas boiler and central heating system in the event of a breakdown. If your boiler fails and an engineer cannot restore your heating or hot water, the company may reimburse up to £50 for the cost of an alternative heating source or contribute towards the cost of overnight accommodation. If the engineer finds that your boiler is Beyond Economical Repair, Home Emergency Assist could offer you up to £500 towards the cost of fitting a new boiler.
The policy also extends to your electrics. This means that you can make a claim if at least one complete circuit in your home fails and can’t be fixed by resetting the fuse within the fuse board.
Certain issues are excluded from Home Emergency Assist’s plan. For example, the company doesn’t cover boilers that are over 15 years old or any maintenance issues such as descaling. Home Emergency Assist also imposes a £300 limit on gas and heating claims in the first 90 days of cover. Furthermore, the company won’t cover fuses that fail because of an appliance within your home or electrical problems that affect your home security or fire alarm system.
The company benefits from a dedicated UK-based call centre which is open 24-hours a day throughout the year, so you can easily request help in case of a breakdown. If cover for your boiler, heating, and electrics isn’t enough, Home Emergency Assist also offers a ‘complete’ policy which includes plumbing and drainage, roofs, home security, and pests.
9. Barclays
Some of the features and benefits of Barclay’s home emergency plan.
- Boiler and heating cover
- £500 towards a replacement boiler
- Cover also includes plumbing, drains, electrics, and more
- Up to £1,000 towards alternative accommodation
- Unlimited claims
- £1,000 claims value limit
Barclays has a home emergency plan for £6 per month. Unfortunately, they don’t offer any information about whether you’re required to pay any excess or call-out fees on top of those premiums.
Barclays home emergency cover can help protect homeowners and ensure they receive assistance in the event of a breakdown or other problem. The company doesn’t explicitly say how much their plan costs per month or per year, but it doesn’t charge any excess or call-out fees.
Barclay’s comprehensive plan covers your gas boiler in the event of a breakdown that leaves you without any heat or hot water in your home. If your boiler fails and an engineer is unable to repair it within 72 hours, Barclays will ensure that you receive a set of heaters to keep you and your family warm. If the engineer finds that your broken boiler is Beyond Economical Repair, Barclays will contribute up to £500 towards the cost of a replacement.
The company also offers protection for your internal plumbing and your internal and external drains. The plan includes protection against issues such as blocked toilets, leaking radiators, and collapsed drains.
In addition, Barclays covers your mains electricity, so you won’t be left in the dark if there’s a problem with your fuse board. The plan also includes roof, home security, and pest protection (including mice, rats, and wasps).
Barclays is unusually generous when it comes to temporary accommodation. If you can’t stay in your home because of an emergency, Barclays may provide up to £1,000 for travel and alternative accommodation.
As you might expect, the Barclays plan doesn’t cover every possible issue or problem. For instance, the plan doesn’t cover boiler faults caused by an accumulation of limescale, rust, or sludge. It also doesn’t protect against problems caused by frozen pipes, or broken electrical switches or sockets.
As a customer, you can make as many claims as you need, and Barclays may pay up to £1,000 per claim. In contrast to many other providers, Barclays only has a 7-day exclusion period from the beginning of cover so you can receive protection sooner. Customers can make claims over the phone or online through the Barclays website.
To learn more about Barclays, visit our detailed profile page, or see their website.
10. Certi
Some of the features and benefits of Certi’s home emergency plan.
- Boiler, gas, and central heating cover
- Choose between plumbing and drain or electric cover
- Unlimited claims and call-outs
- No claims limit for boilers after 90 days
- £2,000 claims limit for plumbing and drains
- Parts and labour included
Certi, a renowned boiler manufacturer, gives you the chance to purchase home emergency cover for £7.46 a month, plus a £95 excess fee.
Certi offers two competing home emergency cover products for the same monthly fee and excess charge.
Their Value+ Cover 30 plan includes protection for your boiler, gas supply, and central heating system as well as your plumbing and drains. Under this plan, Certi can send out an engineer if you experience a complete boiler breakdown or a leak from your radiator, pipes, and valves. The company can also assist with leaky hot and cold water pipes and blocked or overflowing drains.
The Value+ Cover 30 excludes non-emergency issues which could affect your boiler, gas supply pipe, and central heating system. For example, Certi doesn’t cover problems such as a buildup of limescale, rust, and sludge, adjusting timers or controls, or frozen pipes that don’t cause a blockage or leak. The Value+ Cover 30 plan Certi also excludes plumbing and drain issues such as frozen pipes, faulty sanitaryware, or any problems related to your external drains and gutters.
Under their Value+ Cover 40 plan, you can benefit from the same boiler, gas, and central heating protection but receive cover for your mains electrics instead of your plumbing and drains. Like the previous plan, the Value+ Cover 40 option excludes non-emergency boiler, gas, and central heating issues. In addition, Certi can’t help with electrical issues such as resetting circuit breakers, replacing fuses, or any problems with your electric heater or boiler.
Both the Value+ Cover 30 and the Value+ Cover 40 plan allow unlimited claims and call-outs so you can rest easier. Certi limits the value of boiler-related claims to £250 during the first 90 days of cover, but after that period, there’s no claims value limit. The company will only pay out a maximum of £2,000 for plumbing, drainage, and electrical claims at any time.
Fortunately, your monthly premium covers the cost of parts and labour.
If you’d like to obtain further cover, Certi offers more extensive plans that include plumbing, electrics, home security, and protection against pests. You can also purchase a separate boiler and heating plan that includes an annual service.
To learn more about Certi, visit our detailed profile page, or see their website.
11. Smart-Cover
Some of the features and benefits of Smart-Cover’s home emergency plan.
- Plumbing, electrics, home security, and pest cover
- Gas supply pipe also covered
- Unlimited claims
- £250 claims value limit
- 24-hour claims line
- Contractors available across the UK
Smart-Cover offers a basic level of home emergency cover for £7.99 per month, plus a £25 excess which must be paid for each claim.
Their basic plan covers your plumbing, including damage or a breakdown affecting your internal plumbing and drains, as well as your external water supply pipe. The policy also includes cover for your gas supply pipe, central heating pipes, and radiator valves.
Furthermore, Smart-Cover offers protection for your electrical system and home security, such as your external doors, locks, and windows. It can also help if you become locked out because you lost your only set of keys, or if your home becomes infested with pests or vermin.
The company doesn’t impose a limit on the number of claims you can make each year but it won’t pay out more than £250 per claim. Smart-Cover’s basic plan also has a range of exclusions. For example, the company doesn’t cover general maintenance issues or damage caused by inadequate maintenance. Likewise, Smart-Cover excludes electrical appliances and wiring in outbuildings, as well as pest infestations by squirrels and bees.
As a customer, you can benefit from a claims line that’s open 24-hours a day, so assistance is available anytime. Furthermore, Smart-Cover has a network of contractors who operate across the UK and which the company regularly audits and monitors to ensure you receive good service.
If you’re interested in a higher level of cover, the company offers boiler and central heating cover for an extra monthly fee.
To learn more about Smart-Cover, visit our detailed profile page, or see their website.
12. WarrantyPeople
Some of the features and benefits of WarrantyPeople’s home emergency plan.
- Internal and external drainage cover
- Also includes electrical breakdown cover
- £100 excess per claim
- Unlimited call-outs and claims
- Parts and labour included
- Price guarantee for new customers
WarrantyPeople has a range of different home emergency plans starting from £9.99 per month plus a £95 call-out charge.
Their bronze plan includes cover for your internal and external drainage system. This means that WarrantyPeople will cover damage such as a burst or leaking pipe, overflows, as well as problems affecting your cold water storage tank. The policy also includes emergency breakdown cover for your electrical system, including the mains wiring, circuit breakers, and fuse board (or consumer unit).
Unsurprisingly, there are certain exclusions. For example, WarrantyPeople won’t cover any pre-existing faults, accidental damage, general maintenance problems, or any issues affecting your underfloor heating or towel rails.
WarrantyPeople’s home emergency cover includes parts and labour and allows customers nationwide to request unlimited call-outs. Their UK-based helpline is open 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. What’s more, the company has a network of 3,000 engineers and it can usually have someone onsite within 4 hours.
If you’d like more cover, the company offers ‘silver’ and ‘gold’ plans which may include cover for your boiler, central heating, and home security (for an additional monthly charge).
13. EDF Energy
Some of the features and benefits of EDF Energy’s home emergency cover.
- Gas and heating cover with annual service
- Electrics, plumbing, roofs, and pests also covered
- £500 towards a new boiler
- £150 for overnight accommodation if needed
- Parts and labour guaranteed
- 14-day exclusion period
EDF Energy Total Protect cover gives you comprehensive protection for £13.63 per month, plus an excess of £95.
EDF Energy covers your gas boiler and the controls, including the timer, thermostat, and programmer. The policy also protects your condensate pipe and hot water cylinder. Customers receive an annual boiler service to keep everything running as it should. However, if your boiler fails and is Beyond Economical Repair, EDF Energy will give you up to £500 toward the cost of fitting a replacement.
The Total Protect policy also extends to your central heating system, so you can get assistance if you encounter any problems with your radiators, valves, or pipework.
Speaking of pipes, EDF Energy offers protection for your plumbing and drains. More precisely, it covers issues such as burst pipes, leaking downpipes, blocked drains, and damaged toilets (either caused accidentally or due to mechanical failure).
The policy extends further to cover complete failures which may impact your mains wiring such as the fuse board, circuits, switches and sockets. EDF Energy can also help if your roof begins to leak, if you discover pests in your home, if you lose your key, or if your home is insecure due to a break-in or vandalism.
To help keep you and your family safe, EDF Energy will contribute up to £150 towards the cost of temporary accommodation if your home becomes uninhabitable due to an emergency. The company covers call-out charges and labour and even guarantees all parts for 12 months. What’s more, the exclusion period for making claims is just 14 days—less than the exclusion periods required by some other providers.
However, we couldn’t find any information on whether EDF Energy limits the number of claims you can make or the value of those claims, so you may want to enquire further if you choose them as your cover provider.
14. HomeServe
Some of the features and benefits of HomeServe’s home emergency cover.
- Gas, central heating, plumbing and electrical cover
- £60 excess per claim with unlimited claims
- No claims value limit for most gas and central heating issues
- Includes boiler health check
- Claims line open 24-hours a day, all year
- Most repairs guaranteed for 12 months
HomeServe gives new you the chance to purchase home emergency cover for £18 per month, plus a £60 excess fee payable for each claim.
HomeServe’s Plumbing, Heating & Electrics policy covers your gas and central heating system, including your boiler, gas supply pipe, the hot water cylinder, and your radiators. The company covers repairs that are required because of a breakdown or leak in your gas or heating system, problems with the thermostat or timers, or damage to your gas supply pipe.
There’s no limit on the number of claims you can make, and HomeServe doesn’t limit the value of most gas and heating claims unless the problem affects your gas supply pipe. However, all boilers must pass a health check to ensure they’re in good working order at the start of the policy.
The company also covers plumbing and drainage systems including internal water pipes, internal and external drains, and waste pipes. Protection also extends to your toilet, sink, and stop taps. You can make an unlimited number of claims, but HomeServe will only pay out a maximum of £4,000 for plumbing and drainage issues each year.
Furthermore, the policy covers electrics including the wiring, switches and sockets, as well as your fuse board (or consumer unit). HomeServe allows you to make an unlimited number of claims for problems such as failed wiring or permanent damage caused by a power cut, and it will cover repairs up to a value of £4,000.
In the event of any problems, HomeServe has a claims line that is open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. The company has a network of engineers who can assist in the event of an emergency, and it guarantees most repairs for 12 months. If you’d like even more peace of mind, HomeServe also offers security, roofing, and pest cover for an additional monthly fee.
15. British Gas
Some of the features and benefits of British Gas’s HomeCare plan.
- Gas, central heating, and plumbing cover
- £60 excess payable for each claim
- No claims limit
- £1,000 limit per claim
- First service and annual servicing included
- Book a repair by phone, online, or via the British Gas app
Through their HomeCare plan, British Gas enables you to obtain emergency cover for your home for £20.50 per month, not including the £60 excess charge per claim.
The plan includes cover for your gas and central heating system, plus the plumbing and drains. In other words, British Gas will cover emergency repairs for your boiler, gas supply pipe, and your internal and external water pipes, drains, and taps.
Naturally, there are certain issues that are excluded from the HomeCare plan. For example, British Gas won’t remove any limescale or sludge buildup in your heating system, repair a broken shower, or fix your external gutters. Though the company doesn’t limit the number of claims you can make each year, it won’t pay more than £1,000 towards the cost of each repair.
You can book an engineer by phone, online, or through the British Gas app. Their call centre is open 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Should you want more comprehensive cover, British Gas also offers an upgraded package that includes cover for your electrical wiring, fuse board, and internal and external fittings. The company also offers bespoke coverage for home electrics, gas appliances, and kitchen appliances (at an additional cost).
16. PlusHeat
Some of the features and benefits of PlusHeat’s home emergency policy.
- Gas boiler and central heating cover
- Plumbing, drainage, and electrical protection included
- Unlimited call-outs and no call-out charges
- Claims line open 24/7
- Same- or next-day help
- 30-day rolling contracts
PlusHeat’s Premium Cover plan offers you protection for £23.05 a month, not including the £95 excess payable for each claim.
PlusHeat usefully covers your gas and central heating systems, from the boiler and controls to the gas supply pipe and your radiators, pipes, and valves. If your boiler fails and is Beyond Economical Repair, the company can supply and install a replacement. PlusHeat will even cover the cost of installation if your boiler is less than seven years old.
In addition to gas and heating cover, the Premium plan includes protection for your plumbing and drains. The policy extends to your hot and cold water pipes, your taps and toilets, and your internal and external drains and waste pipes. Examples of problems covered under the policy include leaking taps and blocked drains.
PlusHeat equally covers your electrics, so if you experience issues with your mains wiring, fuse board, sockets, or switches, help is just a phone call away. However, make sure you take note of exclusions related to taps, light fittings, and gutters. It’s also worth noting that boiler repairs are limited to £300 in the first three months of cover.
All PlusHeat customers have access to their breakdown phone line, which accepts calls 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. Though you can make as many claims as you require, we were unable to determine whether PlusHeat imposes a limit on how much it will pay per claim, so do keep this in mind as part of your research.
Fortunately, the company aims for a same-day or next-day response. Furthermore, you won’t have to pay any call-out charges, and your monthly premium includes the cost of parts and labour. Plans operate on a 30-day rolling contract, so you aren’t tied into a plan for long periods.
If you’d like cover for small maintenance jobs, roofing, home security, or pest issues, PlusHeat offers a Platinum plan for an additional monthly fee. You can also customise your cover by adding an annual boiler service, a gas service, or cover for your white goods and cooker.
To learn more about PlusHeat, visit our detailed profile page, or see their website.
Why Get Home Emergency Cover?
The nature of home emergencies means they can happen at any time, day or night. Home emergency cover can give you peace of mind if your boiler breaks down, if your drains become blocked, or if you discover an infestation of unwanted pests.
With a home emergency policy, you’ll know who to call to arrange a repair, saving you time searching for a qualified tradesperson. In most cases, providers have call centres that are open 24-hours a day, so you can ring as soon as you discover the problem.
Furthermore, a home emergency policy can make the cost of repairs more predictable. Though you’ll have to pay a monthly premium and possibly an excess, the insurance company should cover the cost of those repairs. Some providers even guarantee parts for up to 12 months.
How Much Is Home Emergency Cover?
The monthly cost of home emergency cover varies widely from company to company. Our findings on the top home emergency cover providers indicate that policies start as low as £0.99 and go up to £21.70 per month.
Depending on the plan you choose, you may also have to pay an excess (or call-out fee) charge every time you make a claim. Though not all companies impose these fees, our research suggests that excess and call-out fees range from £25 to £100. If you select a plan without an excess, your monthly premiums may be higher.
As with any contract, we suggest that you check whether your monthly premiums will increase if you decide to renew your cover.
What Is the Best Home Emergency Cover?
The best home emergency policy depends for you depends on a broad number of factors. For example, are you only concerned about two or three areas of your home? If so, you could consider a more streamlined policy or even a standalone boiler plan.
On the other hand, are you looking for peace of mind for any problem that could arise? In that case, you might want to ask about comprehensive plans that cover everything from your boiler and central heating to your roof and house keys.
Your choice of cover could also depend on the characteristics of your home and its fittings. For instance, is your boiler relatively new and still covered by the manufacturer’s guarantee, or are you worried that your older boiler could become unreliable? Some home emergency cover providers will only cover boilers under a certain age or systems that are still under the manufacturer’s guarantee. Others may exclude specific boiler makes like Chaffoteaux and Potterton.
There is also the issue of cost; our research suggests that the monthly cost of home emergency plans (and excess or call-out charges) can vary quite a lot.
Once you’ve determined your needs and budget, our guide to the top home emergency cover providers can help you narrow down your choices.
Is There a Difference Between Home Emergency Cover and Home Insurance?
Yes, there can be a difference between home emergency cover and home insurance. Home insurance comes in three forms: buildings insurance, contents insurance, and combined buildings and contents insurance.
In general, buildings insurance covers damage to the physical structure of your home and any permanent fittings and fixtures such as your bath and kitchen. As a homeowner, you almost certainly purchased home insurance as part of the mortgage application process. Contents insurance protects your personal belongings against damage and theft.
By contrast, home emergency cover protects you in the event of problems such as a boiler or central heating breakdown, a power outage, blocked drains, or if a storm loosens some of your roof tiles.
Before purchasing a home emergency plan, you should check your home insurance policy so that you know what it already covers. In some cases, there may be some overlap between your home insurance and a home emergency plan, so you should ask about this before you purchase additional cover.
Alternatively, you may want to ring your home insurance provider to ask whether they offer home emergency cover as an add-on to your current policy.
What Is Excess on Home Emergency Cover?
The term ‘excess’ refers to money that customers must pay whenever they make a claim on their insurance. If your drains become blocked and you make a claim on your home emergency cover, you may have to contribute towards the cost of unblocking or repairing the drain.
If the issue is covered by your home emergency plan, the company that provides the cover then pays the remaining cost. Some companies limit the amount they are willing to pay to repair or replace your boiler, so you may have to pay the full cost if you exceed that limit.
Not all companies charge an excess. Some companies give you the option of paying no excess on claims in exchange for paying a higher monthly premium. Other providers that offer non-insured maintenance plans may charge a call-out fee instead of excess.
When Do I Need Home Emergency Cover?
Home emergency cover is an optional type of insurance, so it’s up to you to decide whether you need that additional peace of mind and when you want to purchase cover.
However, many insurance providers have different requirements for issuing cover, so it’s worth taking the time to do your research beforehand. For example, if you choose gas and heating protection, your insurer may require that your boiler pass a health check before they agree to cover it.
Furthermore, the majority of home emergency policies have exclusion periods. In other words, your cover won’t begin immediately but only after a certain number of days. However, some companies may waive this exclusion period if you switch from another provider, so it’s worth asking about this before you purchase.
If you choose a home emergency policy that includes gas and heating cover, you may also want to consider buying it in the spring or summer. Whilst everyone needs hot water all year round, consistent heating is especially important in the cooler months.
Can I Add Emergency Cover to My Home Insurance Policy?
Whilst this can be convenient, you may want to research other companies to ensure that you’re getting the best cover for your needs and budget.
What Is Classed as an Emergency?
In general, an emergency could be any sudden, unexpected, event which creates an immediate health risk for you and your family, causes damage, and (or) makes your home uninhabitable as a result.
To be safe, we recommend that you ask your insurance provider to explain this before you purchase, or check your insurance policy document for more information.
If I Make a Claim on My Home Emergency Cover, Could It Affect the No-Claims Discount on My Home Insurance?
In short, it depends. If you have separate home emergency and home insurance policies, it’s unlikely to affect your no-claims discount—unless you also make a separate claim on your home insurance for something that’s not included in your home emergency cover.
However, if you purchase home emergency cover as an add-on to your current home insurance, you should check with your insurer or read through your insurance policy document. Some providers allow you to make a home emergency claim without affecting your no-claims discount, whilst others don’t.
We have affiliate relationships with Hometree, YourRepair, and 24|7 Home Rescue. If you decide to purchase a product from one of our affiliate partners, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
