Managing property as a landlord can become quite expensive when the need for repairs comes up. Arguably one of the most expensively common repairs that landlords have to deal with is when things go wrong with the boiler.
Although landlord boiler cover isn’t required by law, there are lots of legal requirements around keeping the property habitable and supplying a Gas Safety Certificate. Under The Landlord and Tenant Act (1985), landlords have 24 hours to fix any emergencies. This includes loss of hot water and heat. As the law requires the repairs to be completed by a Gas Safe registered engineer, a comprehensive landlord boiler cover policy is seen as essential by many landlords to manage any potential high repair costs
Depending on the policy you take out, it can help with the cost of gas safety inspections and annual boiler service.
What Is Landlord Boiler Cover?
Landlord boiler cover protects landlords against sudden breakdown or faults, leaving them calm and in control when getting contacted by tenants who have issues. With 24/7 helplines across all good policies, someone is always accessible in an emergency; the costs of parts, labour and call out will all be included in the boiler cover.
This specialised cover ensures that landlords remain on the right side of the law when dealing with repair emergencies within the required time of 24 hours.
Are Landlords Responsible For The Annual Boiler Service?
According to the law, the landlord must ensure that all water, gas and electricity are in good repair and working order. This includes the responsibility for an annual boiler service. Exceptions do come into play if the tenant has caused damage to the boiler system through mistreatment.
All these costs can be managed with a comprehensive landlord boiler cover policy.
What Is The Difference Between Homeowners And Landlord Boiler Cover?
Homeowner boiler cover is similar to landlord boiler cover in many ways. However, the landlord boiler cover does include a free gas safety inspection (CP12) and certification. This is required by law.
It’s also important to note that landlord boiler cover is not the same as the central heating cover. A central heating policy will include cylinders, pipes, radiators and central heating too.
Do Landlords Need Boiler Cover?
There are many benefits to landlord boiler cover, with the main attractions being the 24 hours calls outs and the legally required CP12 certification.
First and foremost, it enables landlords to avoid unexpected and high repair costs. Tenants are not responsible for covering any boiler costs; with the average annual boiler service cost alone sitting at £80, having this covered can be a real saving.
Another major benefit of boiler cover is having access to a panel of trusted Gas Safe engineers to carry out any repairs to a high standard. With unlimited call-outs across most policies, no matter what the issue is, a Gas Safe engineer can be there within hours to keep your tenants happy. Finding an available and reliable Gas Safe engineer at short notice can become both difficult and expensive – especially during unsocial hours.
What Should A Good Landlord Boiler Cover Policy Include?
- 24 Hours Repairs – landlord boiler cover should offer 24-hour repairs to ensure you remain within the law to fix any issues within 24 hours.
- Annual Boiler Service – an annual boiler service is crucial to ensuring the boiler is both energy efficient and in safe working order. This is also required by law.
- Radiator Bleeding – Bleeding radiators ensure that the home is being heated up efficiently with no blockages.
- Repair Costs Covered – if any repairs are required, a comprehensive boiler cover policy ensures you’re not billed with any expensive repair costs unexpectedly.
- CP12 Certification – a landlord must provide a CP12 certificate by law to show that all gas work in the property has been checked by a Gas Safe engineer and is safe.
Is Landlord Boiler Cover Included In Home Insurance?
This depends on your home insurance policy. Some providers include basic boiler cover in the policy but it may not cover you for other aspects covered in a specialised landlord boiler cover policy.
You should check your insurance policy before committing to landlord boiler cover.
How To Choose Landlord Boiler Cover?
In the moment of an emergency, your tenants are placing faith in you to fix the issue quickly. It is a legal obligation to fix a broken boiler within 24 hours. Without a strong boiler cover policy, it can be difficult to get someone out in that time frame.
In the event of a boiler breakdown, you need to know that the provider you have selected has a strong reputation and good customer feedback. This is a good indicator of how well and quickly they will deal with any claims.
Remember, many providers do not allow any claims within the first 10-14 days. This period varies by provider so you should have a policy up and running as soon as possible to ensure you’re covered.
Can I Get Landlord Boiler Cover For An Older Boiler?
Boiler cover is available for older boilers. However, not all providers will offer cover for older units and it will come with higher premiums to mitigate the extra risk of a breakdown occurring.
Many providers will not cover a boiler older than 15 years old and some may not renew the policy for boilers older than 10 years old. This is because it is advised to upgrade to a new boiler every 10-15 years.
Do I Need A Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally obligated to annually obtain a gas safety certificate to ensure the property is safe to live in. Some landlord boiler policies will include these checks with your annual boiler service.
What’s The Difference Between Boiler Cover And Central Heating Cover?
As a landlord is important to know the difference. In the moment of an emergency, you need to know what you are covered for and what is not. With the added stress of having tenants in your property, things must be dealt with quickly.
In its simplest explanation, the boiler cover simply protects your boiler and its controls and the central heating cover protects pipework, cylinders and radiators on top of your boiler and its controls.
Landlord Cover FAQs
Do I Need Boiler Cover If The Boiler Under Warranty?
Boiler warranty only covers faults for a certain number of years. If the boiler breaks down caused by other parts of the central heating system, the manufacturer will not repair to replace it.
This is why boiler cover can become very valuable if the unexpected happens.
What Does An Annual Boiler Service Include?
Many people think they do not need annual boiler service. However, it is crucial to keep your boiler working efficiently and to prolong its lifespan.
Your gas safe engineers will:
- Perform visual checks on all aspects of the boiler, pipework and radiators
- Remove the boiler casting to check and test all the essential components
- Perform gas pressure checks
- Test your boiler thoroughly
- Check external flue to ensure there are no blockages