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Five Questions About: Boiler cover

 

Laura Howard,Moneysupermarket
Saturday 21 January 2012 01:00 GMT
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What is boiler cover?

Boiler cover is a type of insurance that will kick in if your gas boiler breaks down. It is designed to avoid expensive repair bills and offer householders 24/7 emergency assistance.

How much does it cost?

That depends on the offering. As an example, basic emergency boiler cover from the AA costs £16.48 a month. It covers four boiler breakdowns a year (with unlimited cover for labour, parts and material), up to £250 towards the cost of a new boiler and an annual service. Extras, such as central heating and electrics cover,can be added.

Isn't it covered under my home insurance?

Boiler repairs can form part of a home insurance policy but usually as an "extra". Esure's home emergency cover for example, costs £53.99 a year as a bolt-on to either buildings or contents insurance. It's wise to check your policy before buying boiler cover to ensure you don't double up.

Do I need boiler cover if I am renting?

No – your landlord or lettings agent will be responsible. But it's worth checking what kind of cover is in place and requesting the emergency phone number should you need it during a cold snap.

What are the pitfalls?

Don't be persuaded to buy cover you don't need. In October 2011, one provider, HomeServe was forced to suspend sales following allegations of mis-selling policies – for example to council tenants who are not responsible for the maintenance.

This information is provided by Moneysupermarket.com in good faith: neither that company nor The Independent can be responsible for its accuracy. It should not be relied upon in any investment decision, for which you should consider professional advice. The price of investments can go up as well as down and past performance cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance.

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