Landlord boiler cover

No, you don’t. Boiler repairs and their associated costs are handled by your landlord.

As a tenant, your only responsibilities around the boiler and central heating are general day-to-day maintenance, and reporting any problems.

Providers sometimes have a limit on how old your boiler can be and still qualify for boiler cover – often around 15 years. Many, however, have no age limit at all.

If you have an older boiler in your rental property it may be worth looking at new installations – modern boilers are usually more energy efficient and better for the environment.

Plus, as greener energy solutions are a big part of modern life you may find it easier to find tenants if your property has a higher green rating.

Most boiler cover policies have a no-claims period, usually lasting for the first 14-30 days of the insurance term. This is to prevent people from taking out a policy only when they need it, and to prevent fraud.

That said, some boiler cover providers do allow you to make a claim immediately. Check each provider’s individual policy for more information.

Usually, yes – landlord insurance should cover burst pipes, boiler trouble, and breakdowns in an emergency.

However, it typically doesn’t cover annual servicing or general maintenance. You’ll need to get specialist boiler cover, which will include these additional services.

Yes, you can get specialist multi-property landlord insurance that lets you insure all your properties on one policy. As landlord insurance includes emergency boiler repairs, it’ll cover multiple properties.

Taking out boiler cover as soon as your boiler breaks down is risky – in fact, many providers have a no-claims period in place to stop this from happening. The length of the no-claim period can differ between insurers, but it’s generally between a few days and a few weeks. It’s better to take a policy out as soon as you can, so if something does happen to your boiler you’re more likely to have cover in place.

When you take out boiler cover, it’s useful to include a policy for regular servicing and safety inspections – this can help you keep your boiler in ideal shape, reducing the risk of needing repairs in the future.

Your boiler cover provider may not pay out claims that come about as a result of poor or no maintenance on your part – for example, a build-up of limescale. It’s up to you to make sure your boiler is maintained properly.

It’s worth remembering that boiler cover can come as a standalone policy but also as part of a home insurance deal. You should check whether your home insurance includes boiler cover as standard, or even as an extra add-on, as it may work out cheaper than taking out cover separately.

If you’re a renter, you may not have to worry about boiler cover as it’s generally the homeowner’s responsibility – in this case, your landlord. You might be able to take out a separate policy but it will usually have to be with your landlord’s permission.

When you have your boiler serviced or inspected, this should always be done by a gas-safe engineer. Gas-safe engineers are qualified to work on, inspect, and service gas boilers, and they are the only people legally allowed to do so. To ensure your engineer is gas-safe be sure to ask for ID. You can also check the company they work for has a gas-safe logo.

It’s always helpful to know when your boiler needs to be looked at, so recognising tell-tale signs like an extinguished pilot light, a flame that isn’t blue, strange smells or sounds, or general performances issues can help you take action sooner rather than later.

The best way to find a good deal on boiler cover is by shopping around, as this way you can see all the options available to you – this means you can compare deals by factors that are important, like cost, level of cover, callout charges, and excess fees. Once you’ve compared your options you’ll be able to find a deal that suits your needs best.

Every winter we rely on our central heating to keep us warm, so having a boiler you can depend on is extremely important to many homeowners.

Of course, sometimes the inevitable does happen, and your boiler will break down - potentially leaving you with a hefty repair bill; this is where heating cover comes into play.

The most important thing to do is to make sure your cover is adequate for your needs. Some policies will only cover costs up to a certain amount per year or per claim, and often the policy will limit the number of claims you can make per year - bad news if you have a tricky to fix fault.

Other companies will not pay for problems related to a build-up of limescale or boiler servicing and inspection. It is also worth knowing the age and model of your boiler, as some older and more obscure boilers are often not covered. This may be because older boilers often do not meet efficiency and safety standards requested by many insurers.

There is also usually a no-claims period attached to policies to prevent people taking out cheap boiler cover on the day their heating packs up and making a claim.

There is no 'wrong' option when purchasing your policy, but it’s important to compare policies carefully to make sure the one you choose covers you for everything you need it to. Here at MoneySuperMarket, our aim is to help you find the best boiler cover for your needs, which is why we've teamed up with some of the UK's leading companies to make your search quicker and easier.

You should consider whether you want cover for just your boiler and heating controls or your entire central heating system – the latter is more comprehensive, however it’s also likely to cost more. Remember that the exact level of cover you’ll be given will depend on the provider, so it’s always best to read policy documents before taking out any kind of insurance.