Home emergency cover?

blue-kat

any advice on buying Home Emergency Cover?

I'm looking for a policy for house breakdowns. We recently had an electrical problem and it was neigh impossible to get an electrician around.
It made me realise how vulnerable we are. Reasonably DIY savvy but just not physically capable due to disability, health problems and getting older.
Not long ago, I renewed House insurance but didn't add on Emergency Cover at the time. Regretted that afterwards.
Any thought on what type of cover to go for? advantages and pitfalls? Thank you.

FreeBear

Have a long read of the small print, and pay particular attention to the exclusions. My mother used to have one of these policies until I had a look at it - In a nutshell, it provided zero cover for stuff that could happen and gave minimal cover for highly unlikely events. i.e. Completely blocked drain or total power failure.

A leak on a flat roof was not covered, and only if the entire tiled roof was blown off would repairs be covered (up to a limit). Small electrical failures, plumbing, and internal drains were also excluded.

Your best bet is to save the annual premium and cultivate a good handyman that can tackle the minor jobs around the house.

pramsay13

I would avoid. I used to get emergency cover but the first time I had to claim on it for a blocked drain I found out it wasn't included and when I looked into it a lot of the normal things weren't covered.
To find local handymen you could check for names on a local business association or findatrader or fsb.

dawyldthing

I had the same with boiler cover they were trying to sell me. I think it was £6 a month (fair enough), but £50 each call out and if they condem the boiler then it's £250 back and that's it. I thought what's the point. Might be worth looking at your bank if you do want it. I'm sure Halifax did it with their paid account I think