Home emergency cover is completely optional, it’s perfect for people who want extra peace of mind they have the right cover in place should something go wrong at home. It covers things like plumbing, gas and electrical failures as well as damage to your doors and windows.
What is home emergency insurance cover?
Home Emergency insurance cover is a peace of mind policy protecting against unexpected incidents such as leaks, boiler breakdowns, loss of keys and sudden loss of electrical or gas supply. If you choose to add it on to your home insurance package or take as a standalone policy, you’ll receive assistance from a range of trades who will provide emergency repairs, to make your property safe or prevent further damage as soon as possible.
What is excluded from home emergency cover?
This type of cover does not cover accidents and general breakages of assets - for this, look at Content Cover. Also, Home Emergency does not include damage caused by general wear and tear, for example a boiler that has broken down due to it not being serviced or problems that have occurred simply due to the age of the product. If there is a leak that doesn’t cause damage to the property, it’s not an emergency and is excluded from the cover.
Home emergencies and social distancing
During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have all had to abide by strict social distancing rules when around people out in public spaces. People that aren’t part of your bubble or household, when allowed into your house for essential purposes such as fixing an emergency leak, for example, should be treated no differently. We’ll be wearing masks and have procedures in place such as temperature checking to ensure there’s no danger of anyone with symptoms entering your household but when Smart Cover’s assistants do pop in to fix your issue, we kindly ask that you give us two metres distance at all times.
What do I get with home emergency cover?
Home Emergency covers unexpected breakdowns to your boiler and central heating system, electrical breakdowns, blocked pipes, external locks, doors and windows, pest infestations and lost keys. Our prices are flexible so you can choose the aspects most important to you and adapt the cover to suit, ranging from Basic to our Premium cover. The higher the grade, the higher the annual claim limit will be and from our Standard cover upwards you will also eligible to alternative accommodation should your home become uninhabitable following a household emergency.
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 to save on home emergency insurance
This is a flexible policy so you can adapt it to the areas you actually need protected. If there are sections of the policy that aren’t essential and you feel you can manage without, you can adapt the price and benefits to suit your needs. Additionally, If you find a better price for your Home Emergency Cover elsewhere, then we’ll match it, subject to terms and conditions. Simple as that. Our price match promise means we offer our award-winning customer service at an affordable price.
Will home emergency cover include my boiler?
With our cover, one of our trusted engineers will be dispatched to fix your boiler if it breaks down unexpectedly, provided it is serviced annually. Boiler servicing means maintaining your boiler and is a highly advisable add on. We recommend adding boiler service because if you’re not having your boiler serviced each year, there’s more chance of a breakdown due to wear and tear - which won’t be classed as an emergency and won’t be covered by us.
Can I keep my no-claims bonus if I claim for home emergency cover?
On other policies like your main Home Insurance and Contents Insurance, you’ll have a no-claims bonus, meaning you can qualify for a reduced premium if you don’t claim on anything that year. Claiming on your Home Emergency policy will have no effect on your no-claims bonus and contents insurance policy.
Is there a limit to the number of claims I can make?
There is no limit on the number of claims you can make but there are limits on the total claims value each year. With the Basic package you can claim up to £1,000 a year with each individual claim holding a maximum claim limit of £250. Standard is the same. With essential the claim limit goes up to £2,500 a year with individual claim limits at £500 per claim. Finally, the Premium package offers an annual claim limit of £5,000 with individual limits at £1,000 per claim.
What can arise for a home owner who does not have home emergency insurance
Home Emergency Cover is good for the head and the home. In an emergency situation you want peace of mind that there’s helpful assistance on hand at all times. But it’s not all about peace of mind; if you don’t have cover, calling someone out to come and resolve your problem at such short notice, be it a heating engineer, a locksmith or a plumber, for example, can result in them charging enhanced rates and call out fees. This cover protects you and your home in those heart-stopping moments, meaning you can worry less.
