Emergency call

When disaster strikes in the home, you will need immediate service. Emergency contracts are essential for both landlord and owner occupier, says Menashe Scharf

With winter now upon us, and the central heating in overdrive, millions of gas boilers in homes around the

country are being pressed into constant use. Some domestic boilers might not have seen the skilful hands of a CORGI-registered engineer for years; a lack of regular service history leading to inefficient fuel burning and potentially higher running costs.

As mentioned previously, an annual boiler service is, in tenanted accommodation- of course- a lawful requirement, and should be arranged by the landlord. But in private domestic residences no such law exists. For one's own safety it is highly recommended that an annual boiler service, and indeed an annual service of other gas, electrical and plumbing installations, be carried out by a competent person. It inspires confidence in the equipment to perform, and instills peace of mind -- an assurance that you have done all in your power to prevent your equipment breaking down as the result of neglect.

Yet, serviced or not, your central heating system is not guaranteed to last forever. Wear and tear through regular use could lead to corrosion and breakage of parts -- something an annual service may not pick up. So come that dreaded day when you find your boiler lifeless, your gas cooker dead or an electrical installation in your home not working, what should you do? The answer is to be prepared and take out a 24-hour Emergency Contract.

Like an emergency rescue service, this is an increasingly popular option for homeowners, landlords and tenants who need immediate assistance with a malfunctioning boiler or a total heating installation breakdown. The emergency contract provides 24-hour repair services, and can be arranged to cover a comprehensive set of eventualities, right through from significant issues such as boiler failure and electrical supply problems, to help with a blocked toilet and leaking taps.

Before choosing an Emergency Contract it is critical to assess how such a contract is supported by the provider. The quality of service varies from supplier to supplier.

For example, any Emergency Provider will claim that they provide an efficient response service right across the UK mainland, backed up by a network of literally thousands of Engineers, most of them on 24/7 standby. This promise, when put to test in a real-life situation, must stand up to their agreed service level agreements.

So what happens when you are faced with an emergency and you dial the call centre? When an emergency call comes in they promise to get a qualified engineer to your property within twenty four hours, anywhere in the country. It's a service you can really rely on for any emergency repair covered under your contract for gas, electricity, plumbing, drainage and household appliances - according to the levels of service that you paid for.

Emergency contracts are bespoke, so are built around your needs, whatever they may be.
To get you started you will normally choose from a number of base service levels. These can then be customised to varying degrees to establish an emergency contract that addresses your requirements. Basic emergency contracts offer 24/7 cover for your gas boiler. On top of that, you can add annual inspection and servicing of your boiler.

You can even use the emergency contract to set up annual CORGI-registered service inspections of other gas appliances -- a massive plus-point for landlords in their remit to ensure the safety of their tenants.
For a more comprehensive level of service that includes one year's cover for plumbing, electricity, drainage, pest control, house keys, hotel accommodation and roof-related emergency situations in domestic dwellings.

What's more, there are companies who would not charge for call-outs, nor for replacement parts -these can all be included in the contract.

If you are thinking of taking up an emergency contract, do consider that these agreements cannot be used to cover normal day-to-day property maintenance. Descaling / desludging of central heating pipes or the regular replacement of parts through wear and tear -- tap and cistern washers to give an example -- are issues that you will need to deal with yourself. Likewise, an emergency contract is not a replacement for your buildings and contents insurance. Your emergency contract might act like an insurance policy, but it is only valid in emergency call-out situations.

Household disasters can strike at any time. If your local tradesmen are busy on other jobs they might not be able to help you for days, or even weeks. But, one call to your emergency contract provider will get the problem fixed without delay, no matter what the season, or time of day (or night). It's a product very much worth having, if only for the peace of mind that it brings.