UK home emergency cover
Heating gone, pipe burst, locked out - one number to call
Home emergency plans from £7.90 a month, with unlimited annual claims and Gas Safe registered engineers nationwide, and a helpline that answers around the clock.
Essential cover, promotional price. Prices include all relevant taxes.
- Smart Boiler Boiler breakdown only£14.04 £7.90/mo
- Smart Heating Boiler + central heating£16.06 £8.90/mo
- Smart Home + plumbing, electrics, drains£19.09 £10.90/mo
- Smart Home Plus FEATURED + pests, locks and keys£22.35 £12.90/mo
Home emergency cover helps with certain emergency issues affecting your home, such as a boiler breakdown, a central heating fault, an internal plumbing or electrical problem, a blocked drain, being locked out, or a pest infestation. With Smart Cover, home emergency plans start at £7.90 a month, with cover available 24/7, 365 days a year. Cover levels vary by plan and are subject to policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions.
Smart Boiler Essential
- Boiler Breakdown
- Boiler Service
- Central Heating
- Plumbing
- Drainage
- Electricals
- Pest Infestation
- Security & Lock Keys
Smart Heating Essential
- Boiler Breakdown
- Boiler Service
- Central Heating
- Plumbing
- Drainage
- Electricals
- Pest Infestation
- Security & Lock Keys
Smart Home Essential
- Boiler Breakdown
- Boiler Service
- Central Heating
- Plumbing
- Drainage
- Electricals
- Pest Infestation
- Security & Lock Keys
Smart Home Plus Essential
- Boiler Breakdown
- Boiler Service
- Central Heating
- Plumbing
- Drainage
- Electricals
- Pest Infestation
- Security & Lock Keys
Call UsWhat is home emergency cover?
Home emergency cover is an insurance policy that pays for the call-out, labour and, up to your plan's claim limit, parts and materials when an unexpected problem in your home puts your safety, security or an essential service, such as heating, hot water or electricity, at risk.
When you call our 24/7 claims line, we arrange for a vetted engineer from our nationwide network to attend, subject to availability, and the repair is carried out in line with your policy terms, including any excess you've chosen.
Home emergency cover is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Cover levels, exclusions, excesses and claim limits vary by plan, so please read your Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) and full policy wording before you buy, so you know exactly what is and isn't included.
Do I need Home Emergency cover?
Home emergencies have a habit of striking at the worst possible time - a burst pipe on Christmas morning, a boiler breakdown in the middle of winter, or a power cut that leaves your home in darkness. When disaster strikes, the last thing you want to be doing is scrambling for a tradesperson and worrying about the cost.
Home Emergency cover gives you the peace of mind that when something goes wrong, help is just a phone call away.
Is Home Emergency cover worth it?
The average emergency call-out can cost anywhere from £150 to £500 or more, depending on the problem and the time of day. A Home Emergency policy from Smart Cover costs a fraction of that - giving you year-round protection for much less than the price of a single call-out.
For most homeowners, it's a small price to pay for the reassurance that whatever goes wrong, you're covered.
What counts as a home emergency?
Not every household problem qualifies as an emergency under the policy. Generally, an issue is treated as an emergency when it meets one of the tests below.
It's sudden and unforeseen
For example, a boiler that stops working overnight, rather than one that has been showing signs of failure for some time without being serviced.
You've lost an essential service
Such as heating, hot water, electricity, or a secure way to lock your home.
There's a risk to safety or the property
For example, an active leak causing damage, a suspected gas smell, or exposed wiring, rather than a minor issue with no immediate impact.
It needs prompt attention
The issue can't reasonably wait for a routine, scheduled appointment. Response times depend on engineer availability and are not guaranteed.
What does home emergency cover include?
Cover levels vary by plan, but here's what's typically included across Smart Cover's Smart Boiler, Smart Heating, Smart Home and Smart Home Plus policies.
Boiler breakdown
If your boiler breaks down, home emergency cover pays for a Gas-Safe registered engineer to come and repair it, along with the internal gas supply pipe connected to your meter.
- The breakdown needs to be a genuine emergency, not general wear and tear
- Your boiler should have been serviced within the last 12 months
- Cover doesn't include non-gas appliances
Included in every Smart Cover plan, from Smart Boiler upwards.
Learn morePest infestations
Included on Smart Home Plus, our top-tier plan. It covers the cost of removing infestations caused by black or brown rats, field or house mice, and wasps' and hornets' nests.
This is for eligible pest emergencies rather than routine prevention or pest maintenance - check the policy wording for what counts as an emergency and any claim limits that apply. As with all Smart Cover plans, this comes with an unlimited annual claim limit; the per-claim limit depends on the level of cover you choose.
Learn morePlumbing and drainage
Available from Smart Home upwards, this covers internal plumbing, drainage and (on Smart Home) the external water supply pipe you're legally responsible for. It's designed for issues like burst pipes and blocked drains rather than ongoing maintenance.
- Removal of limescale, sludge or debris, or repairs caused by this, is not included
- Leaks that don't cause damage to the property are not included
- General plumbing maintenance is not included
Electrical failures
Also included from Smart Home upwards, this covers a total emergency breakdown of your home's electricity supply. As with plumbing, it's for sudden, unexpected failures rather than routine electrical work or upgrades.
Learn moreCentral heating
Smart Heating, Smart Home and Smart Home Plus also cover breakdowns to your domestic central heating system and its associated pipework, so you're not left without hot water or heating if something fails.
Not included on the entry-level Smart Boiler plan.
Learn moreSecurity and lost keys
Also included on Smart Home Plus, this gives you assistance if you're locked out or your home is left insecure, for example after losing your keys or damage to an external door, window or lock.
Learn moreSome of the Gas Boilers we cover are
Benefits of Home Emergency Cover
Boiler Insurance
A boiler is an important part of any home. An unexpected boiler breakdown can result in very costly repairs.
Central Heating
Our cover includes breakdown of central heating system and its associated pipework.
Lost Keys
Lost your House keys? Our insurance policy gives assistance in gaining access to your property and protecting your home.
Electrical
Our insurance policies cover total emergency breakdown of your electricity supply.
Drains and Waste Pipes
Our plumbing & drainage insurance covers a wide range of problems including broken pipes, water supply and blocked drains.
Pest Infestation
Our policy offers cover for animal infestations caused by black or brown rats, field or house mice, wasps’ and hornets’ nests.
How a home emergency claim works, start to finish
No app forms, no waiting on hold for an hour. Four steps from "the boiler's died" to "sorted."
- Step 01
Call our 24/7 line
Ring 03333 449 559 and tell us what's happened. We'll confirm it's covered under your plan.
- Step 02
We dispatch an engineer
A Gas-Safe registered, nationwide engineer is arranged to attend as soon as possible.
- Step 03
The repair happens
The engineer assesses and fixes the emergency, subject to your plan's per-claim limit and excess.
- Step 04
Claim closed
Your case is closed once the repair is confirmed and safe, in line with your policy terms.
Home emergency cover vs. home insurance:
they're not the same thing
Standard home insurance is typically built for large, one-off events such as fire, flood, escape of water damage or theft. It's generally not designed to arrange an engineer the same night because the boiler has stopped working. That's the gap home emergency cover is intended to fill.
| Question | Home insurance | Home emergency cover |
|---|---|---|
| Covers a sudden boiler breakdown? | Rarely | Yes |
| Sends an engineer same-day? | Not typically | Yes |
| Covers fire, flood & theft damage? | Yes | No |
| Covers lost keys / lockouts? | Rarely | Yes |
| Covers pest infestation? | Rarely | Yes (Home Plus) |
| Required by mortgage lenders? | Usually, yes | No, but recommended |
In short: home emergency cover is designed to work alongside your buildings and contents insurance, not replace it. Each product covers different types of incidents, so check both policy wordings to understand where cover applies.
Why Choose Smart Cover ?
Smart Cover Insurance Services is a trading name of Smart-Cover Direct Limited, an Appointed Representative of City and Commercial Limited (FRN 314346), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Smart-Cover Direct Limited is entered on the FCA register under FRN 600428. Our vision of offering innovative insurance services has driven our business.
We aim to provide our customers with reliable cover for a wide-range of household products. Our competitive premium rates, limited excesses and streamlined claims settlement ensure customers a complete peace of mind.
Rapid Claims Process
Price Match Promise
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Nationwide Engineers
Frequently asked questions
What is home emergency cover?
Home emergency cover is insurance that pays for an engineer to fix sudden problems in your home, such as a boiler breakdown, a burst pipe, a blocked drain or a failure of your home's electrical wiring. It covers the call-out, labour and parts up to your plan's claim limit. It's designed for genuine emergencies, not routine maintenance, and doesn't cover a failure of the mains gas, water or electricity supply to your home.
What is the difference between Smart Boiler, Smart Heating, Smart Home and Smart Home Plus?
The main difference between these plans is the level of cover and the types of home emergencies included.
Smart Boiler
Emergency boiler breakdown and your internal gas supply pipe. A one-off boiler service can be added as an optional extra.
Smart Heating
Includes everything in Smart Boiler, plus cover for your central heating system. It does not include plumbing, electrics, drainage, or additional home services.
Smart Home
Provides more comprehensive cover, including boiler, central heating, plumbing, electrics, and drainage. It is designed for wider home emergency protection.
Smart Home Plus
This is the most comprehensive plan. It includes all features of Smart Home, plus additional cover such as pest infestation and security & lock issues.
All plans include:
Unlimited annual claim limit
Per-claim limits vary depending on the cover type selected
Cover is subject to policy terms, conditions, exclusions, and claim limits.
What is excluded from home emergency cover?
Home emergency cover is for sudden emergencies, so it doesn't cover general maintenance, wear and tear, faults that existed before your policy started, or claims in the first 14 days. It also excludes limescale and sludge removal, boilers not serviced in the last 12 months, leaks that don't damage your property, failure of the mains supply, roofing, and homes left empty for 30 days or more. For accidental damage to your belongings, you'll need contents insurance.
What do I get with home emergency cover?
What you get depends on the plan you choose. Every plan covers emergency boiler breakdowns and your internal gas supply pipe. Smart Heating adds your central heating system. Smart Home adds internal plumbing, drainage, electrical wiring and your external water supply pipe. Smart Home Plus adds pest infestations and security and lost keys.
All plans come with unlimited claims each year. Each claim is covered up to £500 on Essential cover or £1,000 on Premium cover, including call-out, labour, parts and VAT. If a covered emergency leaves your home uninhabitable for more than 48 hours, you can also get up to £200 towards alternative accommodation.
A 14-day waiting period applies when your policy starts, and cover is subject to exclusions such as general maintenance, wear and tear and pre-existing faults. Please read the IPID and policy terms for full details.
What is classed as an emergency?
An emergency is a sudden and unexpected incident that impacts on your ability to go about your day to day life as normal. It is an issue that needs resolving urgently. If you were to lose your keys and couldn’t get into your own house, for example, you’d need to sort that out right away; if there was a sudden leak, you’d need to patch things up as soon as possible to avoid flooding and further problems that could make your home uninhabitable.
How do I make a claim?
To report an emergency, call our 24/7 Emergency Helpline on 03333 449 247. For other claims questions, call 03333 449 559. Please tell us about an emergency within 24 hours. If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 first.
Who should you contact if you smell gas?
If you smell a natural gas odour, hear the hissing sound of gas escaping or see the other signs of a leak, Immediately call the free National Gas Emergency helpline on: 0800 111 999.
Why might a home emergency claim be declined?
Most declined claims come down to the policy terms. The most common reasons are:
- The problem isn't a sudden emergency, for example, general maintenance, wear and tear, or an upgrade
- It happened during the 14-day waiting period at the start of your policy
- The fault existed, or you knew about it, before your cover started
- Your boiler hadn't been serviced in the last 12 months
- The repair was arranged without calling us first
- The problem isn't included in the plan you chose
If your claim is declined, ask us which policy term was applied and check it against your policy documents. If you disagree, you can complain using the process set out in your policy documents.
Is a boiler breakdown always an emergency?
If your boiler suddenly stops working and leaves you without heating, it's usually treated as an emergency on all four plans, as long as your boiler has been serviced in the last 12 months. A breakdown that only affects your hot water isn't covered, and a minor fault where the boiler still works, such as a noisy pump, may not count as an emergency.
Is a leaking pipe an emergency?
A burst pipe, or a leak you can't control, is an emergency. Turn off the water at your stop tap straight away to limit the damage, then call our 24/7 Emergency Helpline on 03333 449 247. Leaks that don't cause damage to your property aren't covered. Plumbing emergencies are covered on Smart Home and Smart Home Plus and on our Smart Plumbing & Drainage plans.
What should I do first in a home emergency?
- Make it safe. Turn off the water at your stop tap or the electricity at your consumer unit if water is near electrics.
- If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 and leave the property.
- Check whether it's a supply problem. If your neighbours have lost power too, it's probably a power cut, so call 105.
- Call our 24/7 Emergency Helpline on 03333 449 247 before booking anyone to do a repair.
- Have your policy number and a short description of the problem ready.
Please tell us about an emergency within 24 hours.
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