What is home emergency cover?
If something goes wrong in your home that could immediately affect your safety, then home emergency cover can provide you with access to a 24-hour helpline, as well as professional help from an engineer, electrician or plumber who can help you to fix urgent issues.
Where normal home insurance policies might cover you for damage to your home and belongings due to theft, flooding or a fire, it’s unlikely to help you if you need your locks changed, your boiler fixed, or a burst pipe repaired. Home emergency insurance gives you both fast response and financial cover in a household emergency. A registered tradesperson will be sent out to you and paid for by your insurer so that you don’t have to worry about the quality, cost or speed of repairing your home.
What counts as a genuine emergency?
Home emergency insurance typically covers you for incidents that:
Make your home unsafe or cause permanent damage to it
Create a risk to your health or wellbeing
Make your home vulnerable to thieves
In practice, this generally means a sudden, unforeseen problem that needs fixing quickly - such as losing your only source of heating or hot water, a leak that's actively damaging your home, or a broken lock leaving your property insecure. A dripping tap or a slow-draining sink, while annoying, usually wouldn't count as an emergency under most policies.
Do you need home emergency cover?
Home insurance policies can include emergency cover as standard, so it's important to check your home insurance policy before you purchase home emergency cover. If your home insurance does not include emergency cover and you wish to include it, you can either pay extra to add it to your existing policy or choose to take out a separate policy. You may also wish to check that you are sufficiently covered if you do have emergency cover included in an existing home insurance policy.
You only need home emergency cover if you own your own home. If you are a tenant, your landlord is responsible for dealing with emergencies. If you are a landlord there are specialised landlord home emergency policies you can get, rather than a standard policy.
What does home emergency insurance cover?
Home emergency cover can protect you against a number of different events depending on what level of cover you choose. You’ll be covered for call-out costs, parts needed for repair and labour costs. Although remember that any further work needed on the affected area may not be covered. Scenarios that can be covered include:
|
|
|
Some insurance providers will be specific about what they pay out for, so be sure to check exactly what you will be covered for before you take out a policy.
Different providers will have different agreements for the service they provide, that will change a number of factors. For example, the promise of response speed may change depending on the provider. Most home emergency cover policies will only require a premium, but make sure you double-check whether any excess will be required on top of the premium you pay.
Make sure you check the fine print of your policy as even when certain emergency situations are included, there may be limits and exclusions added. There can be maximum limits on the cost of repair, the number of repairs or callouts per year and the total value of claims per year. Common exclusions such as age limits for boilers or lack of maintenance are also often included in home emergency insurance policies.
Boiler cover vs home emergency cover - what's the difference?
Boiler cover: covers your boiler and central heating system specifically, and usually includes an annual service. A cheaper option, but covers fewer emergency scenarios.
Home emergency cover: covers a broader range of emergencies including your boiler, burst pipes, electrics and lost keys. A more expensive option, but covers more scenarios.
If you're mainly concerned about your boiler and heating, boiler cover on its own may be enough. If you want broader protection against unexpected household emergencies, home emergency cover is the wider option.
Boiler cover is usually a longer-term plan and often comes with an initial no-claims period, so it's worth taking out well before you expect any issues.
Check the small print on age exclusions too: older boilers are statistically more likely to break down, and some policies won't cover a boiler past a certain age at all.
How much does home emergency cover cost?
The price of home emergency cover varies depending on how comprehensive you want it to be. It's often cheaper to add emergency cover to your existing home insurance policy.
However, claiming on your home insurance can require you to pay an excess and you may lose your no-claims bonus, as always, check the terms and conditions.
Typical repair costs give a sense of what you could be facing without it**:
Boiler breakdown: £120–£750, averaging around £300 for a repair, or £450 for an emergency call-out
Burst or broken pipe: around £100 for a simple repair
Gas leak: around £165 for a simple repair
Blocked drain: around £175
When choosing a policy think about what specific areas you want to be covered for and make sure you only get the cover you need. Be sure to compare multiple providers so that you find the right policy for you. Try using our online home insurance comparison tool to find the best deal today.
How can I avoid home emergencies?
Get your boiler serviced annually - many policies require an up-to-date service record for cover to be valid
Insulate exposed pipes before winter to reduce the risk of them freezing and bursting
Avoid putting food scraps, oil or wipes down drains, which is one of the most common causes of blockages
Don't overload sockets or extension leads, and get faulty wiring checked by a qualified electrician
Test smoke alarms regularly so they're working when you actually need them
Alternatives to home emergency cover
Boiler cover: focuses specifically on your boiler and central heating, usually with an annual service included. Cheaper, but narrower cover.
Home appliance insurance: covers repairs to appliances like washing machines and fridges, but not your boiler or heating system.
Self-insurance: setting aside savings to cover unexpected repair costs, rather than paying an ongoing premium.
How can I save on boiler and home emergency cover?
Improve your insulation: draught-proofing and loft or wall insulation raises the efficiency of your heating system.
Keep up with servicing: a policy that includes regular servicing and safety checks lowers the chance of a breakdown in future.
Maintain your system properly: insurers can refuse to pay out on claims caused by poor maintenance, such as limescale build-up.
Don't pay for cover you don't need: check your home insurance policy first, since boiler or emergency cover may already be included.
Act on early warning signs: performance issues or a faulty pilot light can be early signs of costly repairs - it's best to claim early rather than wait.
How do I claim?
As soon as you have an emergency make sure you call the insurer’s helpline. The insurer will then make arrangements and a tradesperson should then be with you within 24 hours.
Make sure that you don’t try to repair the problems yourself or call a separate tradesperson to repair the problem as you will not be covered for the costs.
Related guides and products
Why Money Expert?
Money Expert has been helping UK customers compare and save on home insurance since 2003. We connect you with a broker who can help you find the right home insurance policy - with or without home emergency cover - from a panel of trusted UK insurers.
Home emergency cover FAQs
Do I need home emergency cover as a tenant?
No, if you're renting, it's your landlord's responsibility to deal with home emergencies, not yours.
Will a claim affect my no-claims bonus?
It depends on your provider and policy - check your terms before claiming, since some emergency claims are treated separately from standard home insurance claims.
Is home emergency cover worth it?
For most homeowners, yes - it can save the time and expense of finding a reliable tradesperson at short notice for problems like a broken boiler or burst pipe. Whether it's worth it for you depends on your budget and whether your existing home insurance already includes some emergency cover, so it's worth checking your current policy first.
Can I get home emergency cover for a second home?
Yes, though you'll need to tell your insurer the property isn't your main residence, and some providers require both properties to be insured with them. If your second home is regularly left empty for long periods, you may need unoccupied cover instead - see our second home insurance guide for more.
Do I have to pay an excess if I make a home emergency claim?
Usually, yes. You'll typically agree an excess amount when you take out the policy, and you'll need to pay it towards the cost of any claim. A higher excess usually means a lower premium, so it's worth weighing up what you could comfortably afford in an emergency.
Will I be offered alternative accommodation if my home becomes unsafe to live in?
Some home emergency policies include a contribution towards temporary accommodation, such as a hotel, if your home is made unsafe or uninhabitable by the emergency. Check your policy documents, as this isn't included as standard on every policy.
Is boiler cover worth it?
For most homeowners without an up-to-date boiler warranty, yes - it can save you from an unexpected repair bill and a wait to find a qualified engineer. It's less likely to be worth it if your boiler is brand new and still under manufacturer's warranty.
Can I get boiler cover for an older boiler?
It depends on the provider - some set an age limit (commonly 7-15 years) beyond which they won't offer cover, or will charge more for it. Always check your specific boiler's age against a policy's terms before assuming you're covered.
Is boiler cover a legal requirement?
No, boiler cover isn't a legal requirement in the UK. However, having your boiler serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer is strongly recommended for safety, and may be a condition of your boiler cover policy or manufacturer's warranty.
Does boiler cover include leaks?
It depends on the policy and where the leak is. Many boiler and home emergency policies cover leaks from your boiler, central heating system or internal pipework, but not leaks from appliances or from pipework outside your home. Check your policy wording for the specific inclusions.
** Boiler repair and boiler insurance cost estimates sourced from Checkatrade, "Boiler repair costs in the UK in 2026" (updated May 2026). Burst pipe, gas leak and blocked drain call-out cost estimates sourced from Checkatrade, "Plumber Call-Out Charges: Cost Breakdown 2026" (updated March 2026)