Home emergency cover

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What is home emergency cover?

Home emergency cover is a type of insurance policy for urgent issues affecting your home, including water leaks and heating loss in winter.

It covers the cost of arranging for a tradesperson to come out to your property to fix your emergency as quickly as possible. It could pay out for the cost of urgent repairs because of:

Boiler/heating system breakdowns
Plumbing problems
Blocked drains
Electrical faults
Roof damage
Pest infestation
Household security issues (for example, a broken window).

Home emergency insurance only covers the cost of the initial call-out and repairs. It won’t pay to fix the root cause of the issue. For that, you may be able to claim on your buildings insurance or contents insurance, depending on what’s been damaged.

What does home emergency insurance cover?

Home emergency cover is there to help you in a crisis – that’s to say, if your home is unsafe, there’s a risk to your health and safety, or there’s a possibility of further damage.

Exactly what’s covered depends on the insurance provider you choose and how much you pay. As a rough guide, you can expect home emergency insurance to cover some or all of the following:

Boiler or central heating issues

If you’ve no hot water, an approved engineer will come out and deal with the emergency. You’ll most likely need to have your boiler regularly serviced for cover to be valid, but you can get home emergency plans that include an annual service.

You could also be covered for the cost of emergency repairs to your central heating system and radiators.

Note that you might not be able to claim for heating issues in summer. And some providers won’t cover boilers over a certain age.

Burst pipes

If a damaged pipe causes a leak or flood inside your home, emergency cover allows you to get it urgently fixed. Your policy is unlikely to cover pipes outside your home as these are usually the council or water company’s responsibility.

Blocked drains

Offers cover if there’s a problem with your drainage system, like a blocked drain causing your kitchen to flood.

Roof damage

If a storm damages your roof, you could be covered for urgent repairs to make your home safe and dry until you can get the damage properly assessed.

Electrical failure

Emergency home insurance could pay to fix the problem if your fuse box blows, or an electrical fault leaves you without power. You won’t be covered for power cuts caused by the grid.

Broken doors or windows

If a smashed window or broken lock leaves you at risk of being burgled, your policy could sort the problem.

Lost keys

Some insurance providers will replace lost or stolen keys, allowing you to get safely back into your home.

Pest infestations

You may be covered for infestations of mice, rats and wasps. Pests that require specialist removal, like bees or moths, are usually excluded.

Alternative accommodation

In certain situations, your insurance provider may put you up in a hotel or other temporary accommodation until your home is made safe.

What doesn’t home emergency insurance cover?

Home emergency cover doesn’t usually cover:

Routine maintenance
Damp, mould and rot
Older boilers (your policy will specify how old, but this can be anything from eight to 15 years)
Minor issues, like a dripping tap or a broken socket
Pest infestation of outbuildings
Extra work beyond fixing the original issue. For example, home emergency insurance would cover the cost of repairing a burst pipe, but not any resulting damage
Emergencies that occur after your home has been unoccupied for a set number of days – usually around 30.

Policies won’t cover wear and tear, so it’s important to maintain your central heating system. Most insurance providers will also insist you have your boiler serviced every year. If you don’t, this could invalidate your cover.

Some providers might not cover solar heating, so if you want this type of cover check the policy before you buy.

What do I need to get a home emergency cover quote?

To help you find the right cover, we’ll need a few details about yourself and your home, including:

Your personal details
Let us know your name, address and contact details.
The type of building you want to insure
Tell us about the type of property you live in, and whether you own or rent it.
How much protection you need
There are various levels of cover to choose from. Some policies cover your whole heating system, plumbing and electrics, while others just cover the basics.
Your boiler details
Tell us your boiler’s age and whether it’s been serviced in the past year.

Is home emergency cover worth it?

If you’re a homeowner, having emergency cover could save you time and money in a crisis. When you consider the potential cost of emergency call-out fees for water, gas and electrical problems, it could be worthwhile.

To give you an idea of the costs involved, the following table shows the approximate price ranges for a variety of emergency repair jobs**:

Repair/job type	Typical cost
Emergency boiler repair	£100-£500
Burst pipe	£220-£440
Emergency plumber call-out	£75-£150 per hour
Drain patch repair	£200-£450
Emergency locksmith call-out	£50-£150

**Correct as of May 2024

Home emergency cover could help cover these costs. But you’ll have to decide whether it’s right for you based on your budget, circumstances and your own research.

It can also reassure you that your insurance provider will be able to get any emergencies sorted quickly and efficiently.

If you’re renting, you don’t need home emergency cover – it’s the landlord’s responsibility to take care of emergencies. They can add landlord home emergency cover to their landlord insurance for an extra cost or get specialist cover if needed.

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Are there limits to home emergency cover?

There are likely to be limits to your cover, including how much you can claim in a year. Each insurance provider has its own conditions, but some common limits are:

Starting period exclusion. With some standalone or optional policies, you might not be able to claim within a set period from the start of the policy.
Claim cost cap. You’ll be covered up to a certain threshold for the cost of call-outs, parts, labour, materials and VAT. Claim limits vary, depending on the level of cover you choose.
Number of call-outs. Some policies limit the number of call-outs and claims you can make in a year.
Call-out times. While home emergency cover usually offers fast repairs, thanks to the 24/7 helplines, some providers warn that they may not be able to find an authorised contractor to deal with your emergency within a reasonable timescale in bad weather or periods of excessive demand.
Age of appliances. If any appliances or your heating system are included in your home emergency cover, there may be a limit on how old it can be.

Are there alternatives to home emergency cover?

There are alternatives to home emergency cover you may want to consider.

Boiler cover will cover your boiler and, if you pay extra, can be extended to include your central heating system, pipes and electrics.

Another option is home appliance insurance. This doesn’t cover boilers but can cover the cost of repairs if your appliances go wrong.

Will my home insurance cover emergencies?

A regular home insurance policy covers events like fire, flood, theft and vandalism. It generally doesn’t protect you if your boiler breaks down or your fuse box blows.

Some home insurance policies offer limited home emergency cover as standard, but you’ll usually need to pay to add home emergency cover to your home insurance policy.

How can I buy home emergency cover?

There are two main ways to get home emergency cover:

As an extra with your home insurance

You can buy home emergency cover as an optional extra with your home insurance.

When you compare home insurance with us, just select the emergency cover box to add the cost of this to your quote.

As a separate policy

Alternatively, you can buy a standalone home emergency policy. Cover is usually flexible, allowing you to choose the features important to you. You could cover just your boiler or include your heating, pipes and electrics.

Some policies include an annual boiler service, which could save you money. But the more you choose to cover, the more you’ll typically have to pay.

How much does home emergency cover cost?

Insurance providers typically charge a flat fee for adding home emergency cover to your home insurance. But how much this fee is will depend on several factors, such as:

Cover type – a standalone policy is likely to be more expensive than a policy add-on. That’s because it’s usually more comprehensive and covers more emergencies.
How extensive the cover is – the more your policy covers, the more it will cost. For example, some policies cover your entire heating system and electrics, and some have higher claim limits.
Excess or call-out fee – this is how much you contribute towards the cost of a claim. The higher your excess, the lower your premium will be. Just make sure you can afford to pay it if you need to make a claim.
Payment schedule – paying monthly can be more expensive than paying annually because interest is typically added to your monthly payments.
Choice of provider – shopping around for home emergency insurance helps make sure you’re getting the right deal for you. But check for fees and restrictions before switching provider.

Can I get home emergency cover from Compare the Market?

Yes, you can include home emergency cover as an optional extra when you compare home insurance quotes with us. Just select the emergency cover box when getting a quote.

Get a home insurance quote

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a homecare plan that covers more than just emergencies, we’ve partnered with Hometree, which offers a range of packages to help ensure your home runs smoothly.

Go to Hometree

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What our expert says...

“Although home emergency cover isn’t a necessity, it can save you the hassle of trying to find a tradesperson at short notice. It could even save you money in the long run. Just make sure you check your policy for limits and exclusions as you might find you’re not covered for everything you think you are.”

- Anna McEntee, Home, pet and travel insurance expert

Frequently asked questions

Can I get home emergency cover for a second home?

You can get home emergency cover for a second home, but you’ll need to tell your insurance provider that the property isn’t your main residence. If your second home is left unoccupied for more than 30 days, you may have trouble getting emergency cover.

Will I have to pay an excess if I make a claim?

If you claim on your home emergency cover, you’ll usually have to pay an excess. You’ll be asked to agree to the amount when you take out the policy.

The higher your excess, the lower your premium will be – but make sure you can afford the excess if you need to claim. Some policies don’t have an excess, but these are usually more expensive.

Can I get a no-claims bonus with home emergency cover?

Home insurance policies usually come with a no claims bonus, so you’ll pay less for your premium if you don’t make a claim. If your emergency cover is linked to your home insurance, you’ll need to check whether a home emergency claim will mean forfeiting your no claims bonus.

If you have standalone home emergency cover, your home insurance no claims discount won’t be affected if you claim.

What’s considered a home emergency?

Most insurance providers define a household emergency as a sudden and unforeseen situation that needs to be dealt with quickly, otherwise it may:

Result in your home losing its main source of heating, lighting or water (hot or cold)
Cause permanent damage to your home or contents
Make your home unsafe or insecure
Pose a risk to health.

The definition can vary, so check what your insurance provider considers an emergency.

Will I be offered alternative accommodation if my home is uninhabitable?

Some home emergency policies cover the cost of alternative accommodation up to a set limit if damage leaves your home uninhabitable. If you need to be out of you home for longer while it’s being repaired, you can usually claim on your home insurance.

How do I claim on my home emergency cover?

If you have an emergency at home and want to claim on your policy, call your insurance provider’s 24-hour emergency helpline. They’ll assess how serious the issue is and send out a tradesperson as quickly as possible.

Don’t try to arrange repairs yourself. If you bring in your own tradesperson, you won’t be covered.