What to Do If Your Boiler Breaks Down?

A broken boiler is disruptive, particularly in cold weather. Here’s what to do, in order.

Step 1: Stay safe

If you smell gas at any point, leave the property immediately, don’t switch any lights or appliances on or off, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 from outside the building.

If there’s no gas smell but the boiler is making unusual noises, displaying error codes, or leaking water, switch it off at the boiler itself and at the thermostat. Don’t attempt to investigate or repair it yourself.

Step 2: Check your tenancy agreement

If you’re renting, your landlord is legally responsible for maintaining and repairing the boiler. Check your tenancy agreement to confirm the process for reporting maintenance issues, then contact your landlord or letting agent in writing as soon as possible.

Include a clear description of what’s happened, when you first noticed it, and whether the property is currently without heating or hot water. Boiler breakdowns, particularly in cold weather, are classed as urgent repairs and your landlord should be responding within a few days. Our guide on how long landlords have to fix problems covers what timeframes to expect.

Step 3: Arrange repairs

Only a Gas Safe registered engineer is legally permitted to work on a gas boiler in the UK. If you own the property, find a qualified engineer through the Gas Safe Register. If you’re renting, this is your landlord’s responsibility to arrange.

If your landlord is unresponsive and the situation is urgent, particularly if you have young children, elderly residents, or it’s winter, you may need to arrange emergency repairs yourself and seek reimbursement. Keep all receipts and correspondence if you do this.

If you have home emergency cover as part of your home insurance, use it. This add-on covers the cost of emergency call-outs for sudden boiler failures and can significantly reduce out-of-hours repair costs.

Step 4: Set up temporary heating

While you wait for repairs, a few practical steps can keep the cold at bay:

• Portable electric heaters are the most effective temporary solution. Use them in the rooms you’re spending the most time in and be mindful of energy costs.
• Thermal layers, extra blankets, and draught-proofing windows and doors help retain heat in the property.
• If the situation is prolonged and the property is genuinely uninhabitable due to cold, contact your landlord about alternative accommodation. Some home insurance policies include temporary living expenses cover if your home becomes uninhabitable.

Step 5: Prevent it happening again

Annual boiler servicing is the most effective way to reduce the risk of breakdowns. A qualified engineer can identify issues before they cause a failure.

If you’re renting, your landlord is responsible for arranging annual boiler servicing. They’re also legally required to carry out an annual gas safety check and provide you with a copy of the certificate within 28 days. If you haven’t received one, ask for it.

If you own the property, book a service every year and consider a boiler cover plan or home emergency cover to manage the cost of unexpected repairs.

Does insurance cover a boiler breakdown?

Standard buildings insurance does not usually cover boiler breakdown through general wear and use. Cover typically applies to sudden and accidental damage, not mechanical failure over time.

Home emergency cover is the most relevant insurance product for boiler breakdowns. It covers the cost of emergency call-outs and repairs for sudden failures, with most policies covering parts, labour, and the call-out fee up to a set limit.

If a boiler leak has damaged your belongings, your contents insurance may cover the cost of replacement. With Lemonade’s contents insurance, water damage from a covered event is included. Our guide on escape of water explains how water damage claims from boiler or pipe failures are assessed.

Before we go

A boiler breakdown is stressful, but acting quickly and knowing who to contact makes it significantly more manageable. Stay safe, contact your landlord or a Gas Safe engineer promptly, set up temporary heating, and check whether your home emergency cover applies. Don’t attempt to repair the boiler yourself.

With Lemonade’s home insurance, you can add home emergency cover to protect against sudden boiler failures and other domestic emergencies.

Boiler breakdown FAQS