What to Do If Your Heating Stops Working?

It’s never a great feeling when your heating stops working. But don’t worry, there are practical steps you can take to get things running again (or stay warm in the meantime). Let’s break it down, step by step, so you’re not left shivering too long.

Step 1: Check your power and gas supply

Before assuming it’s a boiler fault, rule out a wider supply issue.

Electricity: Check whether other appliances and lights are working. If not, it may be a power cut affecting your area. Check your electricity provider’s website or app for known outages. If it’s just your property, check the consumer unit for a tripped circuit breaker and reset it if needed.

Gas: Check whether your gas hob works if you have one. If you’re on a prepayment meter, check the balance. A low or empty balance will cut your gas supply. Top it up and allow a few minutes for the supply to restore before testing the heating again.

Step 2: Check your boiler and thermostat

If the supply isn’t the issue, check the boiler and thermostat directly.

Boiler: Look for error codes on the display, check whether the pilot light is on, and check the water pressure gauge. Most boilers have a recommended pressure range of 1 to 1.5 bar. If pressure has dropped, you may be able to repressurise it following the instructions in the manufacturer’s manual. A basic reset can resolve minor faults. If the boiler is making unusual noises, leaking, or the error code suggests a gas fault, switch it off and call a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Thermostat: Make sure it’s set to the correct temperature and mode. Check the batteries if it’s a wireless model and replace them if needed. If it’s a smart thermostat, check whether it’s still connected to the boiler correctly.

Our boiler breakdown winter tips covers additional steps for more persistent boiler issues.

Step 3: Check your tenancy agreement and report to your landlord

If basic troubleshooting hasn’t resolved the problem, check your tenancy agreement to confirm the process for reporting repairs, then contact your landlord or letting agent in writing straight away.

Your message should include:

• A clear description of what’s happening and what you’ve already checked
• When you first noticed the problem
• Whether you currently have no heating, no hot water, or both

Landlords are legally required to ensure heating and hot water are in working order throughout the tenancy. For a total loss of heating in winter, 24 hours is the expected response time. For partial issues, a few days is reasonable. Our guide on how long landlords have to fix problems covers the timeframes in more detail.

If your landlord isn’t responding within a reasonable time, contact your local council’s Environmental Health department. Officers can inspect the property and issue an improvement notice requiring repairs to be carried out. Citizens Advice can advise you on escalation options specific to your situation.

Step 4: Stay warm while you wait

If repairs can’t be arranged immediately, a few practical steps help:

• Use portable electric heaters to keep the rooms you use most at a reasonable temperature. Be mindful of running costs if you’re on a tight budget.
• Close internal doors to keep heat in smaller spaces and block draughts under doors with rolled towels or draught excluders.
• Layer up with thermal clothing and extra blankets, particularly overnight.
• For hot water, a kettle can cover basic washing needs as a short-term measure.

If the property is genuinely uninhabitable due to cold, particularly if you have young children or elderly residents, contact your landlord about alternative accommodation. Some home insurance policies include temporary living expenses cover in these circumstances.

Does insurance cover heating failure?

Standard buildings insurance does not cover boiler breakdown from general wear and use. However, home emergency cover is specifically designed for situations like this. It covers the cost of emergency call-outs, parts, and labour for sudden heating failures, and is available as an add-on to most home insurance policies.

If a leak from the heating system 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 these claims are assessed.

Before we go

Heating failure is manageable if you work through it methodically. Check the supply, inspect the boiler and thermostat, and report it to your landlord in writing if basic troubleshooting doesn’t resolve it. Keep a record of everything, and escalate to Environmental Health if your landlord isn’t responding promptly.

With Lemonade’s home insurance, you can add home emergency cover to protect against sudden heating failures. 

Frequently Asked Questions