Your home insurance policy may already include emergency cover but it is worth checking the policy documents to see. You can often buy an additional section to your existing policy. The policy will look to offer assistance if for instance your pipes burst during the winter. The policy would cover the cost of the workman and also the repairs.

Each policy will offer different options but the basic premise is the same. It covers you if an incident has left your home unsafe or insecure for its occupants or if a risk is created of loss or damage to your home or its contents or if the home is left without essential services – such as electricity / gas or mains drainage.

• Blocked drains.
• Burst pipes.
• Loss of main source of hot water or of heating.
• Loss of all keys needed to get into Your Home - this excludes garages and outbuildings.
• Blocked toilets
• Leaking roof.
• Security risks such as a damaged window or door.
• An amount paid if you need to be housed over night in temporary accommodation.

In general policy exclusions may include;

• Normal day to day home maintenance.
• Any incident which cannot be classed as a true emergency. This could be the breakage of an internal glass door.
• Pre existing problems known to you at the time the insurance is purchased. Such as damaged drainage pipes.
• Damage to home contents - should be covered on contents insurance.