Home Emergency Insurance

Burst pipes don’t wait for a quiet Tuesday… and broken boilers have a nasty habit of giving up the ghost just when you need it most. When something goes wrong at home, it usually happens at the worst possible time. Home Emergency insurance gives you access to a 24-hour claims line, so help can be arranged when a covered emergency hits. We don’t provide the insurance, we just help you find the right cover. This policy is arranged by Coplus and underwritten by Collinson Insurance.
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Quick reasons people get Home Emergency cover

  • 24-hour claims line, because emergencies don’t stick to office hours.

  • Up to £1,000 per claim - Cover towards contractor costs for covered emergency repairs.

  • It’s for emergencies. This isn’t for servicing your boiler… it’s for when it suddenly stops working.

  • Simple, no-nonsense approach. We help you find the cover. The insurer handles the rest.

What is Home Emergency Insurance?

Think of home emergency insurance as your “something’s gone very wrong” backup plan.

If there’s a sudden snag at home, like a plumbing failure, heating breakdown or electrical problem, home emergency cover will help arrange an approved engineer to deal with it (as long as it’s covered by the policy).

It’s designed for emergencies that could make your home unsafe, cause damage if left or need sorting quickly. Just a word of warning, it’s not there for general upkeep or wear and tear. It’s there for when disaster strikes.

Plumbing
Drainage
Heating
Electrical
Gas supply
Security
Pests

Plumbing issues

Leaks, bursts or failures that need urgent attention.

Drainage problems

When things stop flowing the way they should…

Heating breakdowns

Because no one enjoys testing their resilience in winter.

Electrical failures

Nobody likes joining the dark side when an electrical fault stops the power.

Gas supply pipe emergencies

Internal gas supply issues after the emergency services have made things safe.

Security, roofing & lost keys

Locked out? Roof damage? Door won’t secure? That kind of thing.

Pest infestations

Unwanted house guests (and no, not the in-laws).

Is Home Emergency Insurance right for you?

Home emergency insurance is designed for homeowners who live in the property as their main residence, are over 18 and have buildings or contents insurance already in place. Home emergency cover is not a legal requirement in the United Kingdom. It’s probably not right for you if you want a maintenance plan, boiler servicing or own a commercial property. The same can be said if you are planning to leave your home empty for long periods.

Homeowner

For the one with the keys

You’ll usually need to own the home you want to cover. At the end of the day, homeownership brings responsibilities.

Over 18

Old enough for the admin

You'll need to be 18 to take out a home emergency insurance policy. Yes...old enough for the boring stuff. Though it's quick and easy with Insureworks.

Fully Insured

Get the main cover sorted first

Your home needs to have buildings insurance in place. You'll probably need that for your mortgage anyway. Then it's time to consider more.

Want peace of mind

Because faults love bad timing

If surprise breakdowns make your eyes water, then this cover may be worth considering. It provides that safety net when something goes wrong.

someone wearing a green cardigan dealing with a burst pipe in the kitchen

Home Emergencies Have Terrible Timing

Your house should be the place where you’re able to switch off and relax. Something painful usually crops up when you get a rare chance to do so. Sometimes a pipe bursts, the boiler gives up, the drains stop playing nicely, or the lights decide they’ve had enough. Fixing that at 10pm at night is the complete opposite of bucket list stuff.

That’s where home emergency insurance may be able to help. It’s designed for sudden, unexpected problems that need sorting quickly. It can cover plumbing and drainage issues to heating breakdowns, electrical failures, roofing, security, lost keys, pests and gas supply pipe problems.

man using a laptop to visit the insureworks website

Why Choose Insureworks to Arrange Home Emergency Insurance

Insureworks keeps everything simple, so you don’t have to spend ages working through life admin. We make arranging home emergency insurance super easy. There’s no jargon or drawn-out forms. If you decide Home Emergency insurance is right for you, we’ll help you arrange cover that gives you access to a 24-hour claims line when a covered emergency hits.

Simply answer a few questions, and we’ll provide a quote instantly. No overcomplicated process, no sitting around waiting for someone to call you back. That time is best enjoyed doing what you enjoy rather than dealing with the nightmare situation at home.

How Does Home Emergency Cover Work?

  • 1. Something goes wrong at home. Burst pipe? Boiler breakdown? Blocked drain? It's frustrating and can tip you over the edge. These things have a habit of happening when you've got no time to deal with it.
  • 2. Call the 24 hours claim line. If it’s a covered emergency, you can call the claims line and help can be arranged through an approved engineer. This could include plumbing, drainage, electrical failure, central heating breakdown, roofing, security, lost keys, pests or gas supply pipe issues.
  • 3. The emergency repair gets assessed. The policy can help with contractor fees for emergency repairs, up to the claim limit. It’s there for sudden and unexpected problems, not routine maintenance or those “I’ll sort it next weekend” jobs that have been waiting since 2021.
  • 4. No need for panic stations. You're back to normal. If the claim is accepted, cover may help towards emergency repair costs, temporary accommodation if your home becomes uninhabitable, or a heating contribution if your heating can’t be fixed within 48 hours. Policy limits and terms apply.

Home Emergency Cover Expert Comment

Nick Rinylo
Nick Rinylo

Home emergencies are rarely convenient – boilers stop working when it’s freezing, pipes leak when you’re busy, and keys vanish when you’re already late. This cover is designed for sudden, unexpected issues at your main home, with access to a 24-hour claims line and help arranging an approved engineer where the emergency is covered.

Home Emergency FAQs

We know you might have questions. Here are some of the home emergency questions we hear at Insureworks all the time.

Deciding whether home emergency insurance is worth it depends on the individual’s circumstances and the condition of the house. If you think you will struggle to afford a large, unexpected bill for an emergency repair, then home emergency cover is probably worth considering. Likewise, if you live in an old house where the chance of something going wrong is a bit higher, it might be worth it. If you feel you are in a financial position that can cover a hefty bill, or you are in a new house with new appliances, then it might not be worth it.

Home Emergency insurance can cover sudden, unexpected problems in the home that need sorting quickly. These include damage to the external water supply pipe, plumbing, drainage, domestic central heating systems, electrical emergency and breakdown, emergency gas supply pipe, security, lost keys and roofing, and pest infestation. It usually applies to circumstances that can make your home uninhabitable for more than 48 hours. It’s best to check your policy documents to make sure you are covered.

Yes, it can cover emergencies caused by sudden and unexpected failure or damage to the drainage system in your home. So, when things stop flowing the way they should, this cover can come in handy. There are several exclusions, including regular maintenance, so make sure you check your policy terms.

Yes, it can cover sudden and unexpected failures or damage to your internal plumbing system. This includes problems with central heating pipes and radiator valves that could lead to internal flooding or water damage. It does not cover general maintenance relating to the plumbing, or issues that only happen when the appliance is in use. Other exclusions apply, so check your policy terms.

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