Best Landlord Boiler Cover UK

Cue frantic phone calls, panicked texts, and a mad scramble to find a Gas Safe engineer who isn’t already booked solid.

That’s where landlord boiler cover comes in. For a monthly fee, you hand the stress over to a provider.

If the boiler breaks down, your tenants can call directly, an engineer is dispatched, and you don’t have to juggle plumbers, quotes, or out-of-hours callout fees.

But here’s the real question: is landlord boiler cover actually worth it, or just another monthly bill eating into your rental income?

Let’s unpack it…

What is Landlord Boiler Cover?

In simple terms, landlord boiler cover is an insurance-style policy designed for rental properties. Think of it as a safety net:

• Your tenants can report a breakdown straight to the provider.

• An engineer is sent out, usually within 24 hours.

• Repairs, parts, and labour are covered (subject to your plan and excess).

• An annual boiler service is often included.

• Crucially, a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) is provided, which you’re legally required to have every year.

So unlike a standard homeowner policy, landlord boiler cover isn’t just about fixing boilers - it also helps you tick off your legal obligations.

Why Bother With Landlord Boiler Cover?

Yes, you may already have a manufacturer’s warranty. But warranties are limited: they often only cover specific faults, don’t include callout or labour, and don’t provide the all-important gas safety check.

Landlord cover goes further. It combines:

• Peace of mind that emergencies are handled.

• Compliance with the law (gas safety certificates).

• A way to keep tenants happy (they book repairs directly, you avoid midnight calls).

And if you’ve got multiple properties, it can stop boiler issues becoming a second full-time job.

What Does Landlord Boiler Cover Usually Include?

Most policies offer the same basic elements, though the exact details vary by provider:

• Annual service - keeps the boiler safe, efficient, and under warranty.

• Gas safety inspection - legally required every 12 months for rented homes.

• Repairs - covers callout fees, labour, and replacement parts.

• 24/7 helpline - so problems can be reported at any hour.

Higher-tier policies expand to cover central heating, plumbing, drains, and even electrics. But don’t assume everything’s included: some exclude sludge, scale, or older boilers.

Types of Landlord Boiler Cover

Many providers will offer several landlord boiler cover options.

So, instead of one fixed warranty, you’d have various options to choose from.

Usually, this means progressively increasing prices as you go down the list of options, which, naturally will come with more and more coverage.

Let’s look at British Gas as an example. Here are the packages they offer in relation to landlord boiler cover:

All packages come with a landlord gas safety certificate. But note: HomeCare Two to Four are online-only deals.

Landlord Boiler Cover Vs. Alternatives

So, what distinguishes landlord boiler cover from homeowner boiler cover or central heating cover?

Landlord Boiler Cover Vs. Homeowner Boiler Cover

The landlord boiler cover and homeowner boiler cover are very similar.

However, there is one notable distinction between these options.

That being a landlord’s gas safety record.

In contrast, homeowners are not legally obliged to have, say, an annual boiler servicing (although homeowners are still expected to ensure basic safety is followed and issues are dealt with).

Landlord Boiler Cover Vs. Central Heating Cover

Just as there are many comparisons between landlord boiler cover and homeowner boiler cover, the former is also similar to central heating cover.

Central heating cover expands to cover your heating system’s pipes, cylinder, and radiator.

In some cases, the central heating cover is referred to as ‘boiler and heating cover’.

In many cases, you could add to a central heating cover to cover areas like drainage, plumbing, and electrical emergencies.

Best Providers of Landlord Boiler Cover

With so many providers to choose from, you might not know where to start. Let’s explore some popular examples:

👉 Pro tip: don’t just compare prices. Look at what’s actually included - especially whether the gas safety certificate and annual service are part of the deal.

Is Landlord Boiler Cover a Legal Requirement?

No. You’re not legally obliged to buy landlord boiler cover. But you are required to:

• Provide tenants with an annual Gas Safety Certificate (carried out by a Gas Safe engineer).

• Ensure hot water and heating are working and safe.

• Keep the boiler and heating system properly maintained.

• Have an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) for the property.

Without cover, you’ll need to arrange and pay for the annual checks yourself - and manage any repairs directly.

Making a Claim

The claims process is generally straightforward. Most providers let you:

• Call a 24/7 helpline, or

• Log into an online landlord portal and book a repair.

• Your tenant may also be able to contact the provider directly, which removes you from the stress loop.

Example: HomeServe allows landlords to claim online, provided the annual service and CP12 are up to date.

So, Is Landlord Boiler Cover Worth It?

That depends. If you’ve got:

• Multiple properties - cover saves you admin time.

• Older tenants - fast response can be critical.

• A full-time job - you don’t want to play heating engineer at 2am.

…it’s probably worth the monthly fee.

But if you only have one property, a fairly new boiler, and reliable tenants, you might save money by paying for annual servicing and the odd repair directly.

The Heatable Take

Here’s our advice:

• Got a new-ish boiler under warranty? Skip cover, just get the annual gas safety check.

• Got a 12-year-old clunker? Cover may tide you over, but replacement is often cheaper long term.

• Hate admin? Landlord cover can save your sanity.

And remember: if your boiler is reaching the 15-year mark, many insurers won’t cover it anyway. That’s your cue to think about a replacement.