Overview
- Defaqto cautions that switching heating off or letting indoor temperatures fall can void home insurance, particularly for escape-of-water claims from frozen or burst pipes.
- Some insurers have tightened winter terms by requiring minimum heating levels during short absences, with certain policies extending the requirement even when the property is occupied.
- An October market review found 82% of boiler and home-emergency policies require evidence of a boiler service within 12–36 months or according to manufacturer schedules.
- The analysis shows 35% of policies exclude boilers beyond set age limits and 83% impose initial exclusion periods before claims are allowed, typically 14 days but ranging from 24 hours to 90 days.
- More than half of policies contribute toward a replacement boiler, commonly £250–£2,500 or full cost via an insurer’s provider after a minimum time on cover, while the ABI urges use of anti-frost settings, heating timers and notifying insurers if homes will be unoccupied.