Is home emergency cover worth it?

What is home emergency cover, and how does it work?

A home emergency insurance policy covers your expenses for fixing urgent issues in your home, like an electrical failure or your boiler breaking down.

When you make a claim, the insurer will cover the bill for labour, parts and materials, up to an agreed maximum cost. They may even arrange for a qualified tradesperson to come to your home and fix the issue, though this can vary depending on your policy.

If your home is unsafe to stay in while the problem is fixed, your insurance may also cover overnight accommodation for you and your family. This is typically at a cost agreed within the policy.

Is home emergency cover and standard home insurance the same thing?

No, home emergency cover and a standard home insurance policy are not the same.

In short, home emergency cover is a type of insurance that covers the cost of calling out an engineer when you experience an emergency. Whether it’s a boiler breakdown or a problem with your electrics, you’re covered if something goes wrong.

A standard home insurance policy covers the cost of repairing the damage caused by the incident or replacing belongings. However, your home insurance policy wouldn’t generally cover the call-out of a qualified engineer in an emergency. Normally, this would be something you would have to find and pay for in this situation, which can be costly.

It's possible that you can have a level of emergency cover as a part of or as an add-on to your home insurance, so it’s always worth checking if you have this already. However, this wouldn’t usually have the same standard of cover that you would get from a standalone policy.

Do I need home emergency cover?

Home emergency cover gives you peace of mind that your family and your home are protected, should an emergency crop up, such as a burst pipe or broken boiler.

You’re also removing the stress that a situation where you would need to make a claim may bring. You can be safe in the knowledge that a fully qualified professional will be on the case as soon as possible.

Home emergency cover is often worth considering if:

• You want protection against unexpected and potentially costly repairs, which could save you hundreds of pounds in call-out fees and repair costs
• You value peace of mind. Having cover means you can claim online or over the phone in the event of an emergency, and approved tradespeople will be ready to help when things go wrong
• You live in an older property where plumbing, heating, or electrics are more prone to wear and tear
• You’d like fast access to help if your boiler breaks down in winter or a leak leaves your home unlivable

However, home emergency cover might not be worth it if:

• Your home insurance already includes emergency protection
• You have a healthy emergency savings fund that could cover repair costs
• Your home is new or well-maintained, meaning emergencies are less likely
• You’re a renter, as emergency repairs are typically your landlord’s responsibility (in fact, that’s exactly what our home emergency cover for landlords is for!)

So home emergency cover can be a real lifeline, especially if you’d rather avoid unexpected costs and get expert help fast when things go wrong.

What’s included in home emergency cover?

The types of situations a home emergency policy could provide assistance with include:

• Plumbing and drainage issues
• Boiler and central heating breakdown
• Electrical failure
• Pest infestations, such as rats, mice, wasps and hornets in your home
• Security issues, like broken front door locks and lost house keys
• Roof damage after a storm that exposes your home

What isn’t covered by home emergency cover?

It’s likely home emergency insurance won’t cover or include things like;

• Issues caused by lack of maintenance, poor handiwork, faulty design or wear and tear
• Breakdown of appliances like electric showers and air conditioning
• Faults resulting from hard water scale deposits, sludge or blockages
• Limitless claims in one policy year, unless it’s a policy specifically offering unlimited claims
• The total cost, if the urgent fix costs more than the maximum claim amount in callout charges, labour and parts, including VAT
• Power cuts due to external factors, like the National Grid, or problems with wiring outside your home
• Boilers that are older than a certain number of years, or that haven’t been serviced, or that are still covered under warranty. Standalone policies may include an annual boiler service
• Emergencies that happen within 28 days of a policy start date
• Properties left unoccupied for over 30 or 60 days in a row, depending on your policy
• Making repairs beyond the emergency fix, if further work is needed. For that, you’ll need to make a claim on your home insurance

Home emergency cover costs: What you need to know

The cost of your emergency cover will depend on what you're looking for. The cost will differ depending on which company you take out your policy with and the level of cover you require.

The cost can differ depending on the amount you can claim and the maximum number of claims you can make each year, so it’s important to consider what works best for you.

It’s also good to understand exactly what your provider considers to be an emergency. Some may cover both your boiler and heating system, while others may only cover your boiler.

Try and shop around, get a few different quotes and compare which home emergency cover suits you.

How much is Home Emergency Cover with HomeServe?

The cost of Home Emergency Cover with HomeServe will vary depending on a number of factors, such as what you want to cover and the level of cover you’re looking for.

At HomeServe, the standard cost you can expect for our different cover options is listed below. Keep in mind that this is our standard first year pricing, and we have several offers to choose from throughout the year.

Cover type	Cost per month (first year)	Excess fee	Key benefit
Boiler and Heating Cover	£10	£60	Free boiler service in your first year
Plumbing and Drainage Cover	£1	£30	Unlimited number of claims
Cover for Landlords	From £1 (depending on the cover)	From £30 (depending on the cover)	Protection for rental properties
Electrics Cover	£3	£30	Unlimited number of claims

 

Is home emergency cover worth it?

Naturally, it will depend on your circumstances. So, what’s important is whether Home Emergency cover is right for you. It’s also helpful to know about other people’s experiences and you can learn more but looking at our reviews on TrustPilot.

For example, if a pipe were to burst in your home, it could cost an average of £222 to fix without cover*, but with Plumbing and Drainage Plus cover for up to £1 a month in the first year, you’d be covered with a £30 excess up to a claims limit of £8000.

Choose the home emergency cover that’s right for your home

Your home deserves the best protection, and we’re here to make choosing that protection simple. Explore our range of Home Emergency cover options available, including Boiler and Central Heating cover, Plumbing and Drainage cover, and Electrics cover.

With HomeServe, you can feel confident knowing that whenever an emergency strikes, a trusted expert is only a call or click away.

Frequently asked questions about HomeServe Home Emergency cover

“Why is HomeServe so expensive?”

When comparing cover providers against the cost, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of the key features and make sure it’s right for you. HomeServe, for instance, offer unlimited claims. This means you can claim as many times as you like with a claims limit of up to £8000 per claim, covering you against a wide range of emergencies.

*BCIS© Research, September 2025 (prices include labour, parts, call-out charges and VAT)