Do I really need additional Homeserve Plumbing/drainage insurance?

[Startingagainandagain]

I bought a house last year and I have home insurance and emergency cover with one insurer.

I also took out an additional plumbing/drainage cover with Homeserve. It was only £1 a month for the first, but the cover will soon go up and I wonder if I really need to renew it...

Do people think it is worth it? or is it pointless?

I am a 1930 terrace. I installed a new boiler last year but the pipes themselves are probably quite old with some lead pipping.

Personally, if you are disciplined enough (I know my best friend isnt), i would set up a savings account and a standing order and just pop the money away for a rainy day. If nothing ever happens then the money is yours, if something does, then the money is there.

The thing about non compulsory insurance is that you can't possibly know if you're going to need it so there's no way to answer your question

Do you want peace of mind? Is the cost worth that peace of mind? Can you afford it? Can you afford to self insure

Only you know the answers to those questions

We used to have Homeserve but ended it as it became too expensive to justify. Now we just get the boiler serviced every year and call out a plumber for the very occasional problem.

I'm about to move out, and as I've had Homeserve through my landlord (I'm currently renting) and they've been pretty decent, I looked at getting them for my new place.
Like you found, it was a cheap first year rate for the extra stuff, but then was something like £20+ a month! I think I've decided I won't bother, and will just put the money away into savings each month, like I do with other things.

I would recommend reading the main policy you have to see if repairs to pipes are covered. Then you can make a more informed decision about retaining the additional cover.

Thank you everyone for your comments.

I will read their policy carefully over the weekend when I have more time and also double check what is covered by my main home insurer (Direct Line)then make a decision.

Have you ever used HomeServe? It would be quicker to become a tradesman and re-plumb the whole house then it would to get them to look at anything.

It’s so hard to know but I wouldn’t have thought £20 who’d be worth it. You’d have to be pretty unlucky to need to spend more than £240 on plumbing call outs beyond services every single year, wouldn’t you?

I know some people think it’s better to just save £20 a month and put into a savings account and risk calling a plumber if needed.

I do understand that thinking, although if you have no insurance cover you’d have to risk paying for an expensive plumbing job yourself. So a job could cost £500 or £5000, but atleast if you have cover the only thing you’ve spent is a few hundred quid a year for peace of mind. If you having plumbing, drains cover for example , you’d probably pay the excess but that’s all you’d pay. Thats the risk with these insurances.

Funny enough I was thinking of this today and I British Gas home care. But I did think about just adding home emergency cover to my home insurance to see if that’s cheaper.

But then I thought, if I add it to my home insurance , and have to call someone out, will this be classed as a claim? If so, would my home insurance policy go up when I renew?

Atleast a homecare policy that’s not attached to your home insurance, doesn’t affect your home insurance no claims.

Anyone know if this is how it works ?

This! Save your money. Takes weeks to arrange an appointment ime.

I joined it, had an outdoor pipes issue, explained it accurately and in detail to the person on the end of the phone, who told me that yes, it was covered, and paid my £30 excess. The guy came out, looked at the problem, and said he couldn't do anything about it because it wasn't covered.

I called to complain, but they said that I couldn't have my excess payment back.

So no, I wouldn't recommend it.

If you mean British Gas Homeserve, at the moment there are no problems with getting an appointment. I needed an electrician to look at a faulty light fitting, I went online and could have had a visit the next day - but chose to wait until last Friday which was more convenient.

During that visit, I mentioned another visit I mentioned another problem I had with my Surestop ( a switch that operates the water stop tap).. He explained to me how they work and that I would need a plumber so again I went online and have got one coming out tomorrow.

I live alone and struggle with my mobility so to have just one one contact point for my gas, water and electrics suits me. It can appear expensive but I do negotiate the price each year and I am happy with the current price, gives me peace of mind and security.

I have just remembered that I am with British Gas Homecare so I guess it is not the same as Homeserve!

I have home emergency cover included in my buildings and contents insurance. So middle of the night burst pipes (which yes, we have had) are covered. £30 per year, and covers gas, electric etc not just the pipes.

I’m happy paying that, wouldn’t be happy paying £18 per month or whatever British Gas are charging just for pipe cover.

But then I thought, if I add it to my home insurance , and have to call someone out, will this be classed as a claim? If so, would my home insurance policy go up when I renew?

Doesn’t count as a claim with Natuonwide. Check your policy small print, or just ring your insurer up and ask.

Apparently if you buy home emergency as an add on with your home insurance, if you need to claim it shouldn’t affect your no claims discount. Although your advised to check with your insurance company.

So I’d assume it’s cheaper to buy home emergency as an add on with your home insurance,rather than pay a monthly fee to Homerserve or whatever?

Well I just added home emergency cover to my home and contents insurance. I have 3 months left in my policy and cost an extra £4 per month.
Theres no excess fee to pay on a call out , and claims don’t affect my no claims discount. This is for emergency works, so it an insurance claim as such.

So probably better than paying British Gas £21 per month. Only thing is , if I want my boiler serviced I’d have to say that out right but I can just go to a gas safe local tradesmen for that.