Do I need Landlord Emergency Cover?
01/09/2023
As a landlord, unexpected problems like boiler breakdowns, plumbing leaks, or electrical faults can happen at any time. These emergencies can be stressful, costly, and inconvenient for both you and your tenants. Landlord Emergency Cover helps protect you from sudden repair expenses and ensures quick fixes to keep your property safe and livable.
Is Landlord Emergency Cover Worth It?
Landlord emergency cover provides peace of mind and can save you money in the long run. When choosing a provider, make sure you consider what is covered, limits and excesses, reputation, and price.
Here are some reasons for which Landlord Emergency Cover Can Be Worth It for you –
- Financial Protection: Covers out-of-hours callouts and emergency repairs, saving you from unexpected costs.
- Quick Repairs, Less Damage: Fast responses help prevent further property damage and protect tenant belongings.
- Peace of Mind: Assurance that you’re covered for emergencies, especially with multiple properties or older buildings.
- Happier Tenants: Quick, effective repairs reduce disruption, leading to higher tenant satisfaction.
- No Excess Fees: Some policies cover contractor fees and overnight callouts without extra charges.
- Emergency Accommodation: Certain plans cover hotel costs if the property becomes temporarily uninhabitable.
- Unlimited Claims: Many landlord covers offer no limit on how often you can claim.
- Tenants Can Claim Too: Some policies allow tenants to claim on your behalf when you’re unavailable.
PlusHeat is one of the most trusted Landlord Emergency Cover Providers. It ensures fast, reliable service to keep your rental property safe and habitable.
Regardless of your choice, ensuring your property remains safe and habitable for tenants should always be a priority.
What is landlord emergency cover?
If your rental property needs emergency repairs, a call-out could cost you more than you think – let alone the headache.
Emergency cover is designed to protect your property, your tenants and your wallet should an unexpected event occur that causes unpredictable damage or makes your property unsafe for your tenants.
It is usually an additional cover that sits alongside your building insurance, liability insurance, and, if your property is furnished, contents insurance.
What does the landlord emergency cover include?
It does vary between cover providers but typically you’ll be covered for situations such as:
- – Plumbing and heating problems (aside from normal wear and tear), burst pipes, and boiler breakdowns
- – Water mains or electricity supply failure
- – Roof damage that causes a sudden leak
- – Blocked drains and sewer problems
- – Sudden pest infestation
Landlords may also have the option to include the following:
- – Annual boiler service
- – HMO cover
- – Gas safety certificates
What Does Landlord Emergency Cover Exclude?
Landlord emergency cover typically excludes the following:
- Routine maintenance: This includes repairs that are the landlord’s responsibility, such as fixing a leaking tap.
- Pre-existing conditions: This includes emergencies caused by pre-existing conditions that were known to the landlord before taking out the cover.
- Damage caused by tenants: This includes damage caused by tenants or their guests.
- Non-emergencies: This includes repairs that are not considered emergencies, such as cosmetic repairs.
Do you need landlord emergency cover?
Unfortunately, the things our tenants rely on the most in their homes can fail without warning. If the boiler breakdown or there’s a sudden leak, it’s not only distressing for your tenants but can also be dangerous.
Repairs should be sorted as soon as possible to prevent further damage, reduce the impact on your tenants, and make your property safe again. However, arranging repairs can be stressful, time-consuming, and expensive. That’s where emergency landlord cover comes in.
It offers 24-hour assistance, 365 days giving you peace of mind that the issue will be sorted even if you’re not there to handle it yourself.
How Does Landlord Emergency Cover Work?
If you have landlord cover, you will typically have access to a 24/7 helpline that you can call in case of an emergency. Once you have reported the emergency, the provider will send out a qualified engineer to fix the problem.
If necessary, the provider will also arrange alternative accommodation for your tenants.
What are the Benefits of Emergency Cover?
Landlord emergency cover provides the following benefits:
- Peace of mind: You can rest assured that you are covered in case of an emergency.
- Cost savings: Landlord emergency cover can save you money in the long run by covering the cost of emergency repairs and alternative accommodation.
- Tenant satisfaction: Providing Cover to your tenants can help to build trust and satisfaction.
- 24/7 Emergency Support: Tenants can experience issues at any time. So, having round-the-clock emergency assistance ensures that problems are handled promptly by a Gas Safe Engineer.
- Flexible Plans: Many providers such as PlusHeat offer customizable plans, allowing landlords to choose a cover that suits their budget and property requirements.
How to Choose the Right Landlord Emergency Cover?
When choosing the cover, consider the following:
- What is covered: Make sure the cover includes the emergencies you are most likely to face.
- Limits and callouts: Check the limits and excesses to ensure that they are reasonable and affordable for you.
- Reputation: Research the provider’s reputation and customer reviews to ensure they are reliable and trustworthy.
- Price: Compare the prices of different providers to find the best value for money.
How Much Does Landlord Cover Cost?
The cost of landlord coverage varies depending on the provider and the level of coverage you require. The average cost is around £200 per year, but this can vary significantly. It’s important to shop around and compare prices to find the best deal.
Who Needs Landlord Cover?
Landlord emergency cover is recommended for all landlords, especially those who own multiple properties or properties that are older and more likely to have emergencies. It provides peace of mind and can save you money in the long run.
How to make a repair request on Landlord Emergency Cover?
If you need to repair your request for your landlord’s emergency cover, you should contact your provider as soon as possible.
They will provide you with instructions on how to proceed and may arrange for an engineer to visit your property to assess the emergency.
What are the Alternatives to Landlord Cover?
If you don’t want to take out landlord cover, there are a few alternatives:
- Self-insure: You can set aside money each month to cover emergency repairs and alternative accommodation.
- Home emergency cover: You can take out home emergency cover, which covers emergencies in your own home as well as your rental property.
- Comprehensive Landlord Insurance: You can take out comprehensive landlord insurance, which includes emergency cover as well as other types of cover, such as property damage and liability coverage.
What are the Risks of Not Having Cover?
If you don’t have landlord cover, you may face the following risks:
- Unexpected costs: Emergency repairs can be expensive, especially if they occur outside of business hours.
- Tenant dissatisfaction: If you don’t provide emergency cover to your tenants, they may become dissatisfied and look for alternative accommodation.
- Legal risks: If you don’t take reasonable steps to ensure your property is safe and habitable, you may face legal action from your tenants.
How Can I Make a Claim after Buying the Cover?
You can quite easily make a claim. You just have to contact your provider online or give them a call at their helpline number. Providers like PlusHeat offer a 24-hour helpline and assistance.
How to Cancel Landlord Emergency Cover?
If you want to cancel your landlord coverage, you should contact your provider and follow their cancellation process. You may be required to give notice and pay a cancellation fee.
What are the Best Landlord Emergency Cover Providers?
The best landlord cover providers vary depending on your needs and budget.
Some of the most popular providers in the UK include
- British Gas
- PlusHeat
- Direct Line
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