Boiler-only cover
If your boiler breaks, this policy will send out an engineer and cover the repair or replacement costs.
Home emergency cover
Get emergency cover with your home insurance.
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MoneySuperMarket does not offer home emergency cover as a standalone product. You may be able to add cover under your home insurance policy. Please check the details of your policy carefully, as there could be some limitations.
What is home emergency cover?
Home emergency cover is a type of insurance that covers the cost of calling out a tradesman due to a sudden incident. It can be bought as a standalone policy, but is most often added to a standard home insurance policy.
Things your home emergency insurance might cover include:
Burst pipes
Broken boilers
Electrical failures
Broken windows
Roof damage caused by storms
Pest infestations
Home emergency cover only pays for the first emergency call-out. For more extensive repairs, including damage caused by your home emergency, you’ll have to claim on your home insurance.
What counts as a home emergency?
Insurers’ definitions of an emergency vary, but in general an issue will be considered an emergency if it:
Makes your home uninhabitable
Causes permanent damage to your home
Puts your health and wellbeing at risk
Makes your home unsafe
Losing your heating would count as an emergency, but weak water pressure would not.
You should always check your policy documents thoroughly to understand what your insurer counts as an emergency.
Not all emergencies will be covered – like all types of insurance policy, exclusions apply.
Why should I buy home emergency cover?
Emergencies in your home can be stressful and disruptive. Nobody wants to be without heating in winter, or have to wait to get a broken window that compromises their home security fixed.
That’s where home emergency cover comes in. It gives you quick access to tradespeople, and peace of mind that you’ll be protected in the event of an emergency.
How much does it cost?
£18
.31^
Average cost to add to home insurance.
What's covered under home emergency cover?
Home emergency cover typically handles urgent problems that make your home unsafe, but excludes routine maintenance.
-
Usually covered
Boiler breakdown
Burst pipes
Sudden leaks
Blocked drains
Electrical supply failure
Central heating system failure
Pest infestations (rats, wasps etc.)
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Not covered
Boiler servicing (and problems caused by lack of servicing)
General maintenance
Small leaks such as dripping taps and appliances
Pest infestations in outbuildings
Small electrical faults (e.g. broken sockets)
Problems in unoccupied properties
Any extra work required beyond emergency call-out
Do I need home emergency cover?
Home emergency cover is not essential, but it can help with unexpected repair bills. You usually have the choice to add it on as optional, additional cover when taking out home insurance, to give you some extra peace of mind.
✔ Suitable for:
Homeowners, who are liable for costs caused by emergencies
Landlords, who have a duty to resolve emergency situations quickly for their tenants
✖ Not suitable for:
Renters, who are not liable for emergency repairs as this is the landlord’s responsibility
What are other options to protect my home?
-
-
Household appliance insurance
Cover to repair or replace white goods - such as dishwashers, washing machines, tumble dryers and fridge freezers - if they stop working.
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Content insurance for tenants
If you're a tenant, this will protect your personal belongings if they are damaged or destroyed by fire, flood, theft etc.
How does home emergency cover compare to boiler cover?
While home emergency cover protects you from a broad range of urgent situations, boiler cover is a type of insurance that protects your boiler and central heating system only.
Boilers can be expensive to replace or repair, so for some people protecting their boiler is a priority. Boiler cover offers a cheaper alternative to home emergency insurance, covering you if you’re left without heating or hot water due to a boiler breakdown. However, you won’t be covered in other emergency situations.
Boiler insurance | Home emergency cover |
|---|---|
Covers your boiler and central heating system | Covers you against a range of home emergencies including your boiler and central heating system |
Usually includes an annual boiler service | Only covers emergency call-outs |
A cheaper option, but covers fewer emergency scenarios | A more expensive option, but covers more emergency scenarios |
Is home emergency cover worth it?
Often, home emergency cover is a savvy investment that can save you having to pay large amounts of money in a situation where your home becomes uninhabitable. But it won’t be right for everyone.
While home emergency cover can protect you from sudden and unexpected costs, some people might not feel that the cost of emergency cover is worth it. In this case, it can be helpful to put money aside into an emergency fund, which acts as a kind of insurance to pay for any unexpected damages.
Our expert says…
Data suggests that emergency plumber callout fees cost an average of £110, with a cost per hour of £100. Could you afford to pay for a tradesperson to come out and make your home liveable again? If not, then emergency cover could help cover these costs as well as many others that arise in emergency situations.
The benefit of combining home emergency cover and home insurance is that your policy will cover the cost of different problems. While home emergency cover will help in covering emergency callout costs for burst pipes, home insurance will cover the costs for tracing and accessing water leaks that have caused damage over time.
According to our latest data, on previous claims that were declared by customers taking out home insurance with us, “Escape of Water” accounted for 28.71%
^ of all claims, so it’s likely a good idea to ensure you’re covered for all eventualities.
David McDermottroe Insurance & Personal Finance Expert
How can I prevent home emergencies?
The following will help to lower the chance of a home emergency:
Clean your gutters
Leaves can easily pile up in your gutters, along with all sorts of other garden debris. Make sure you keep them clear for water to run through and regularly clean them, if it’s safe to do so.
Prevent blocked drains
A grate over your external drain can stop things going into it and causing blockages. Inside your home, avoid putting anything down the sink apart from water. A sink grate or protector can help here, especially in bathrooms, as it’ll catch any hair that could cause a blockage in your pipes
Insulate pipes
Pipes can easily freeze in the winter, and when the ice thaws it can cause pipes to burst. If your pipes are properly insulated, and you can leave your hot water on for a short period every day if you’re away, this will lower the risk of the water freezing.
Use gas safety engineers
For boiler servicing, use a registered engineer from the Gas Safe Register.
Bleed your radiators
Regularly bleeding your radiators keeps them working and heating your home efficiently.
Watch out for loose roof tiles
If you can safely reach your roof, keep an eye out for loose roof tiles, and get them replaced, especially after periods of bad weather.
Fit security devices
External security cameras can deter potential thieves.
Don’t overload sockets
Using one socket and fitting several plugs to it can cause a safety hazard and a risk of an electric fault or fire.
Service your boiler
Get your boiler serviced annually to help prevent breakdowns and avoid costly emergency callouts.
Keep your home in good condition
Staying on top of repairs — like fixing leaks or cracks — can stop small issues turning into big problems.
Winter:
✔ Unblock drains
✔ Check your pipes and wrap if necessary to prevent freezing
✔ Have your heating sometimes, even if away, to prevent frozen pipes
✔ Keep your home well ventilated
Spring:
✔ Clean your gutters
✔ Check roof for any damage that might have occurred over winter
Summer:
✔ Service your air conditioning unit, if you have one
✔ Trim and maintain plants and trees, particularly those close to the house
Autumn:
✔ Check on fences and trees to make sure they’re stable
✔ Clear drains and gutters of fallen leaves
✔ Get your boiler serviced ready for winter
✔ Bleed radiators
Every month:
✔ Test your smoke alarm system and carbon monoxide detectors
✔ Clean extractor fans
✔ Check for leaks
✔ Check boiler pressure
How do I get home emergency cover?
-
Provide details
You need to provide a few personal details as well as details of your home
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Choose a policy
Select the level of cover you need and the type of policy you want
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Shop around and compare
You can compare quotes all under one roof with our comparison tool
How do I claim on my home emergency cover?
To claim on your emergency home cover you will need to do the following:
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Contact your insurance provider
Contact your provider as soon as possible. Some providers have a 24-hour helpline.
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Get your details ready
Give them your policy number, contact details, nature of the emergency, and any other relevant information.
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Help dispatched
Provided your emergency is covered under your policy your insurer will arrange for someone to come out and fix the problem.
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Can I keep my no-claims bonus if I claim for home emergency cover?
If you have standalone home emergency cover, making a claim will not affect the no-claims discount on your main home insurance. If your policy is linked to your home insurance, you’ll have to check your policy – or contact your insurer – to find out if home emergency claims mean losing your home insurance no-claims bonus.
Can I get home emergency cover for a second home?
Yes, you can buy home emergency cover for a second home, such as one you rent out as a holiday property.
This can be useful as you won’t be there all the time and there are often more problems in unoccupied properties. . This is especially likely if it's unoccupied for long periods of time. There will be a higher risk of things going wrong, such as a pipe bursting, and no one discovering it.
Does home emergency cover include boiler insurance?
Most home emergency cover policies will cover boiler callouts and repairs, but not all of them. It is important to check the terms and conditions of the policy carefully to see what is and is not covered.
Home emergency insurance won’t cover things like boiler services – it’s designed for urgent situations only.
If your boiler isn’t covered by your home emergency insurance, you can usually purchase it as an add-on.
Do I get accommodation if my home is uninhabitable?
Some home emergency policies may offer short-term accommodation if your home becomes uninhabitable. But if the damage is severe and your home is uninhabitable for longer, most home insurance policies cover alternative accommodation.
Is there a limit on how many times you can claim on your home insurance emergency cover?
You can make as many claims as you need, but there is a limit on how much each claim can cost. The claim limit will cover the cost of callouts, parts, labour, materials, and VAT (where applicable). If the cost of repairs exceeds the claim limit, you will need to pay the difference.
Home emergency policies typically have no limit on the number of claims you can make, but there is a limit on the total amount of each claim. Any costs above the claim limit on your policy must be paid by you. The claim limit varies depending on the level of cover you choose.
Does home emergency cover include blocked drains?
Yes, home emergency cover typically covers blocked drains.
Remember to check your policy though, as the exact list of what’s covered or not covered can vary.
Do you pay excess on home emergency cover?
Not usually, no. Most home insurance policies don’t require you to pay any excess on home emergencies. Again, remember to check your policy, as this can vary between providers.
Does home emergency cover include roof leaks?
Home emergency insurance can cover roof leaks, depending on the specific situation. If there was an unexpected and sudden damage to the roof – such as storm damage that caused a leak that made the property uninhabitable – this would be covered by your home emergency cover. A roof leak caused by general wear or tear or lack of maintenance would not be covered.
Is home emergency cover compulsory with a mortgage?
No, home emergency cover is not compulsory with a mortgage. Though some lenders will require you to have buildings insurance in order to take out a mortgage, home emergency cover is an optional add-on.
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Our comparison service is, and will always be, free to use.
Why should I use a price comparison website?
One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals is to compare quotes from different companies. We do the work for you, comparing quotes side-by-side and giving you all the information you need so you can choose the right deal for your needs and your wallet.
We don’t give recommendations or financial advice, but we give you clear information so you can choose financial products that suit your circumstances.
Does MoneySuperMarket work with all the providers on the market?
No, not every company can be included in our service. This is because some companies don’t want their products included on comparison sites, and some decide that they would rather not pay a fee. There are also a few smaller providers who can struggle to cope with the volume of customers that can find their products if they appear on MoneySuperMarket.
Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible so that you can choose the deal that suits you.
Is home insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?
Yes, you can earn SuperSaveClub rewards when you buy home insurance through MoneySuperMarket.
This includes:
Up to £15, which you can withdraw as a pre-paid Mastercard or a gift card for brands like Sainsbury's and Amazon.co.uk
Free Days Out pass (worth £180), which gives free entry to a range of UK attractions
Cashback of up to 10% when you spend at brands including eBay, Just Eat and Argos
To earn SuperSaveClub rewards on purchases you must:
Sign up to SuperSaveClub (it's free)
Be signed in to your account when you make the purchase
More information can be found on our SuperSaveClub homepage.
Is home insurance eligible for Price Promise?
Yes, home insurance is included in our Super Save Price Promise.
If you buy through us then find the same deal for less we will:
refund the difference
give you a gift card worth up to £20
Terms and conditions apply. More information can be found on our Price Promise page.
Reviewed on 12 Dec 2025 by
YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
Data based on enquiries made between September 2025 to November 2025 where the enquiry contained one or more claims.
Based on 1 visit per month – average ticket value £15.30 (Oct 24)
T&Cs and restrictions apply, see here for more information
T&Cs and restrictions apply, see here for more information
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Based on Home Insurance enquiries on MoneySuperMarket between 2025-01-01 and 2025-04-01 where the quote was for building and contents covertype.