| With a spate of extreme weather – well it | | | | finding someone to do essential work for you quickly, |
| seems extreme because the country seems not to | | | | but also covers the cost, usually up to a limit of |
| be able to cope with a bit of snow – over the | | | | about £1,000. |
| past few months, property owners could be forgiven | | | | Cover is quite broad and includes such events as: - |
| for wondering why they cannot get the same sort | | | | Burst water pipes – perhaps in the thaw after a |
| of emergency insurance as owner occupiers can. The | | | | freeze – or the failure of guttering and down |
| answer to this is, perhaps surprising, they can! | | | | pipes; - Failure of domestic electricity, gas or water |
| For a relatively modest cost, property owners can | | | | supply; - The total breakdown of a heating system; - |
| purchase insurance that protects them against most | | | | Failure of the only toilet in the property; and other |
| forms of unforeseen emergency in the same way as | | | | events – even pest infestations. |
| owner occupiers. This is particularly important, | | | | Importantly, there is also usually a level of cover for |
| because they cannot always be on the spot to deal | | | | alternative temporary accommodation, so that |
| with matters personally, and tenants will expect | | | | tenants can get a good night’s sleep while things |
| issues to be dealt with quickly and efficiently. After | | | | are being sorted out. |
| all, that is what they pay their rent for. | | | | There are of course some exclusions depending on |
| Home emergency insurance is not the same as | | | | the type of landlord insurance - such as general |
| property owners insurance - it is an add-on rather | | | | maintenance, events within the first 28 days of the |
| than a substitute. If, for example, you have a | | | | insurance and longer term work - once the |
| blocked toilet which results in damage to decorations, | | | | emergency has been resolved. If there were not, the |
| fixtures and any contents you have in the property, | | | | insurance would have to be much more expensive |
| this is a matter for ordinary buildings and contents | | | | than it is! |
| insurance. | | | | It is therefore important that you seek independent |
| By the same token, however, that insurance will not | | | | professional advice before making any decision about |
| pay for the actual repair to the toilet – that is a | | | | your property owners insurance. You should always |
| maintenance matter and not covered by conventional | | | | ask your insurance advisers what experience they |
| policies. However, home emergency insurance is | | | | have of dealing with residential and/or commercial |
| designed to provide emergency support to you 24 | | | | rental property insurance. |
| hours a day 365 days a year. This includes not just | | | | |