Your boiler
Most policies exclude boilers over 15 years old or cap the repair value.
A remote landlord pays call-out premiums and loses time arranging repairs; the comparer adds a modest cost for that.
Boiler cover is insurance against a breakdown you may never have. This compares the expected cost of a policy against paying for the service and any repairs yourself, using the breakdown rate for your boiler's age.
Most policies exclude boilers over 15 years old or cap the repair value.
A remote landlord pays call-out premiums and loses time arranging repairs; the comparer adds a modest cost for that.
Pay as you go costs the annual service, the gas safety certificate, and the chance of a breakdown multiplied by the average repair, plus a call-out and time allowance for landlords who are not local. Cover costs the premium plus the chance of a breakdown multiplied by the excess, less the service and certificate if the policy includes them. The comparer shows both as an expected annual cost and tells you the breakdown rate at which they cross. It cannot price the peace of mind of a 24-hour line for a tenant with no heating in January; that is worth something, and for a remote landlord with an older boiler it is often the deciding factor.
| Cover level | Annual price, £60 excess | Usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Boiler and controls | £60 to £110 | Boiler, thermostat, programmer, annual service; some include the gas safety certificate |
| Boiler, controls and central heating | £100 to £160 | As above plus radiators, pipework, pump and cylinder |
| Full home emergency | £140 to £200 | As above plus plumbing, drains, electrics, locks and roof leaks |
Ranges from published landlord policy prices. A £0 excess adds 15 to 25 percent; a £99 excess takes 15 to 25 percent off. Landlord policies cost more than homeowner ones because they include the certificate and tenant liaison.
For a boiler between 8 and 15 years old owned by a landlord who is not local, usually yes: the expected repair cost plus the service and certificate is close to the premium, and the policy adds a 24-hour line. For a boiler under warranty, or a local landlord with a trusted engineer, paying as you go is cheaper.
Many landlord-specific policies do, and it is worth £70 to £110 a year. Check the wording says a landlord gas safety record (CP12) is issued, not just an annual service.
£150 to £350 for most call-outs including parts, more in London. A new fan, pump or printed circuit board is £200 to £400 fitted; a heat exchanger is often the point where replacement makes more sense.
Yes. It is an allowable expense against rental income, as are repairs and the annual service.
Some insurers will not take it and others cap the repair value or exclude replacement. At that age the money is usually better spent towards a new boiler, which also helps the EPC C target.
Home emergency is wider (plumbing, drains, electrics, security, roof) and is often an add-on to landlord insurance at £60 to £180. Boiler cover is narrower and usually includes the annual service, which home emergency does not.