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 faults 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 resulting from things like:

Boiler/heating system breakdowns
Plumbing problems
Blocked drains
Electrical faults
Roof damage
Pest infestation
Household security issues (eg: a broken window or damaged lock).

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, if your insurance provider doesn’t count it as an emergency. 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

Policies typically offer 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. Note that cover may only provide a temporary fix, such as boarding up a broken window, until it can be properly repaired.

Lost keys

Some insurance providers may replace your locks if your keys are lost or stolen and you don’t have a spare set, 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 more likely to be 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 it’s often around 10-15 years)
Minor issues, like a dripping tap or a broken socket
Problems that aren’t classed as an emergency, such as problems with your central heating system that cause low pressure
Issues that aren’t reported within a set timeframe, for example 48 hours
Pest infestation of outbuildings
Emergencies that occur after your home has been unoccupied for a set number of days – usually either 30 or 60 days.

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 panels, 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.

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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	£150-£600
Emergency plumber call-out	£75-£200 plus £40-£180 per hour
Drain patch repair	£200-£450
Emergency locksmith call-out	£65-£145

**Correct as of February 2025

Bear in mind that if you need to call someone out of hours, for example at the weekend, then costs are likely to be higher.

Do I need home emergency cover?

If you’re a homeowner, home emergency cover could help cover these emergency repair costs, but it’s not compulsory. You’ll have to decide whether it’s right for you based on your budget, circumstances and your own research.

It may be reassuring to know that your insurance provider can get any emergencies sorted quickly and efficiently.

But before you take out a policy, it’s worth checking your home insurance policy to see if it already covers any emergency repairs to avoid doubling up on cover. And if you have a packaged bank account, there’s a chance home emergency cover could be one of the perks.

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. Some providers warn that they may not be able to find an authorised contractor to deal with your emergency in bad weather or periods of excessive demand.
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.
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 they 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 (but not many) home insurance policies offer limited home emergency cover as standard. However, 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 three main ways to get home emergency cover:

As an add-on to 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 too.

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.

From your energy supplier

You may be able to get home emergency cover from your energy supplier as part of or in addition to your tariff. You could be offered different levels of cover, from boiler only, to heating, plumbing and drains, and home electrics too.

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 can depend on several factors, such as:

Cover type – a standalone policy can be more expensive than a policy add-on. But it may also be more comprehensive and cover 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 is likely to 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

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

Go to Hometree

How can I avoid home emergencies?

Although there’ll always be certain things that are out of your control (like our notorious bad weather, for example), there are practical steps you can take to reduce the risk of home emergencies:

Watch what you put down the drain: to avoid having to get a plumber out to fix a disgusting clogged drain, be mindful of what you send into your pipes. Scrape food off plates and cookware and don’t put baby wipes in the loo.
Insulate your pipes: putting foam lagging around your pipes is a relatively cheap and easy way to prevent your pipes from freezing in winter and cracking.
Get your boiler serviced regularly: a qualified gas engineer can help you identify and fix problems before they become an emergency.
Be careful with electrics: don’t overload your fuse box by plugging in too many devices at once, and don’t use any faulty electrical items as they could be dangerous. If your electrics keep tripping, it’s time to call in a professional.
Clean your gutters: it’s perhaps not the nicest job, but cleaning out your gutters in the spring and autumn can help prevent external drains from getting blocked. It can also help prevent leaks and damp in your home.
Be careful with DIY: don’t rush in – make sure you know where pipes and cables are before you start drilling or hammering. A stud sensor can help you identify where to avoid.
Test your smoke alarms: check them regularly – they can’t warn you if they’re not working.
Bleed your radiators: it’s a good idea to bleed your central heating system at least once a year to keep everything in tip top shape.

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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

To sum up

Home emergency cover is a standalone policy or add-on to your home insurance that covers urgent issues affecting your home. It covers things like emergency boiler repairs, burst pipes, blocked drains, roof damage and electrical failure. To get a quote, you will need to provide a few details about yourself and your home.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get home emergency cover for a second home?

Yes, 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 you’re adding on cover to your home cover, your insurance provider may insist that you insure both properties with them to benefit from home emergency cover.

If your second home is left unoccupied for more than 30 days, you may have trouble getting emergency cover. In that case you could consider holiday home insurance instead.

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 is likely to 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.

Does claiming on home emergency cover affect my no-claims bonus?

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.

For example, a leaking tap, although frustrating, is not an emergency. But a blocked drain that is causing damage to your property or a risk to health (or both) would be considered an emergency.

The definition can vary, so check the terms and conditions of your policy.

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 normally won’t be covered.