As a landlord, owning and maintaining a rental property is a huge investment of your time and money. Making sure your tenants are happy and warm is just one of many essential considerations – which can ultimately become a major headache with boiler breakdowns, unexpected call-outs and mishaps. So it’s sensible to protect yourself with suitable landlord insurance, and in particular, landlord boiler cover.
In this guide you’ll find out how landlord boiler insurance can help you cover yourself financially, protect your property in the event of a problem and help keep your tenants happy.
Why do I need landlord boiler cover?
The most commonly held insurance policies for landlords tend to cover only the building, although they sometimes also include contents insurance, as well as protection for fixtures and fittings. You can also get cover for loss of rent or property owners’ liability insurance.
However, most landlord insurance products and conventional home insurance don’t include boiler cover, which leaves you unprotected in the event that the boiler in your rental property breaks down or develops a fault. Considering that the cost of replacing a faulty boiler can be really high, it makes sense to get boiler breakdown cover either as part of a landlord home emergency insurance policy or as standalone boiler cover.
What is landlord boiler cover?
Landlord boiler cover is a specific type of insurance which can come as part of a larger landlord insurance package including central heating and electrics, or as a single boiler breakdown policy for landlords.
Many landlords choose to insure their boiler, central heating system, plumbing, drainage and electrics, so that they’re covered in the event of any emergencies. At HomeServe we offer a range of landlord insurance packages to cover all situations and needs, including HomeServe boiler cover for landlords.
What does boiler breakdown cover include?
If the boiler in your rental property develops a fault of breaks down completely, landlord boiler insurance can protect you against the potential costs of getting it repaired or replaced. As part of HomeServe boiler insurance, you’ll be able to call 24/7 and relax knowing that a Gas Safe registered Home Expert will be on hand to help if something goes wrong.
How does HomeServe landlord boiler cover work?
There are three main types of boiler insurance packages to look out for:
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Boiler-only insurance
Covers just the boiler and its controls. This is the cheapest option, as it doesn’t include protection for your pipes and/or radiators.
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Boiler and central heating cover
Covers your full central heating system, including any heating pumps, pipes and radiators. It’s more expensive, but you’ll be covered for a wider range of problems.
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Home emergency cover
The most expensive, but most comprehensive option that covers you for all types of problems with your boiler, heating, plumbing, drainage and electrics.
It’s always a good idea to work out what types of faults or breakdowns would cost you more to fix, before choosing which level of cover you need. But, with so many different options, it couldn’t be easier to find a policy that suits your rental property and your pocket.
How much time does a landlord have to fix a boiler?
Landlords are legally required to take action to repair any problems with a property’s boiler quickly. Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 states that repairs should be carried out in ‘reasonable time’. Emergency repairs should be fixed within 24 hours, as having no hot water or heating is classed as a hazard under the law.
Is landlord insurance compulsory?
No. However, you do have a range of legal obligations to your tenants. For example, you must ensure that your property has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and that a Gas Safe registered engineer performs an annual gas safety check. It’s also your responsibility as a landlord to ensure hot water is accessible from the kitchen, toilet and bathroom while also maintaining the health of your rental property’s boiler. So it pays to avoid expensive call-outs and unexpected repairs with cover that’s designed with you in mind.
How often should a boiler be serviced?
You should always check with your boiler’s manufacturer, but usually when you buy and install a boiler, its first service must be done 12 months after installation in order to validate your warranty. You should then have it serviced at least every 12 months after this. Check out our Top 5 reasons to book an annual boiler service here.
Am I responsible for boiler servicing – or are my tenants?
The landlord is responsible for servicing a rental property’s boiler. The Landlord and Tenant Act (1985) states that landlords keep in good repair and working order installations that supply water, gas, and electricity, as well as sanitation systems. In the same way, landlords are also responsible for space heating and water heating systems.
The only exception to the landlord’s responsibility is when damage has been caused to the boiler, specifically by the tenant through mistreatment. It’s also the tenant’s responsibility to keep the heating running when necessary and to report any problems to the landlord straight away.
Find out more about how your boiler works here.
How often should a landlord replace a boiler?
There’s no standard time period. It depends on the quality of the boiler and how well it’s been looked after. If a landlord has invested in an A+ rated condensing boiler and made sure it’s been regularly serviced, the appliance should last for around 15 years, or perhaps even longer. Most boilers do break down from time to time, however, especially during the cold British winter, so make sure you’re covered for all eventualities.
Cover your back with HomeServe
We understand the needs of busy landlords can be very different according to their portfolio of properties and aim to provide a range of landlord boiler cover options. Compare our landlord Insurance policies here, and you can take a look at our wider Gas and Boiler Insurance here.
It certainly pays to be prepared as a landlord, and with us on your side, you can have the peace of mind that Gas Safe registered experts are available nationwide, to take care of unexpected problems and get your rental property running smoothly again.
FAQs
Do landlords need boiler cover?
Landlord boiler cover isn’t a legal requirement. However, because landlords are legally responsible for consistently providing adequate heating and hot water to their tenants, many landlords take out boiler insurance to cover them financially for expensive call-outs and unexpected repairs. Some providers also offer a dedicated helpline for landlords as part of the package.
How often should a landlord replace a boiler?
There’s no standard time period. It depends on the quality of the boiler and how well it’s been looked after. If a landlord has invested in an A+ rated condensing boiler and made sure it’s been regularly serviced, the appliance should last for 15 years, or perhaps even longer.
What does boiler cover include?
If the boiler in your rental property develops a fault or breaks down completely, landlord boiler cover can help protect you against the cost of getting it repaired or replaced, minus the excess, up to the limit of the policy. As part of your HomeServe boiler insurance policy you also get a dedicated helpline to call if something goes wrong and access to an approved, Gas Safe registered Home Expert.
