British Gas vs HomeServe Boiler Cover: Which Is Better?

July 22nd, 2025
British Gas vs HomeServe Boiler Cover: Which Is Better?

What Boiler Cover Plans Do British Gas and HomeServe Offer?

British Gas and HomeServe are the top choices for boiler breakdown cover and heating cover in the UK. Both of these companies let UK homeowners pick from several plans. The plans allow you to find the right cover for your heating system, boiler, heating, plumbing, and home electrics. This helps you feel safe in your home, knowing your heating and other things are protected. UK homeowners have what they need to choose the best cover for them.

British Gas HomeCare Plans

Plan Name What’s Covered Annual Boiler Service Starting Price (per month) Excess Options
HomeCare One Boiler and controls only Yes £14.00 £60 / £100
HomeCare Two Boiler, controls, and central heating system Yes £17.00 £60 / £100
HomeCare Three Adds plumbing, drains, and home electrics Yes £20.00 £60 / £100
HomeCare Four Adds pest control, roof, and home emergency cover Yes £23.50 £60 / £100

HomeServe Boiler & Heating Cover Plans

Plan Name What’s Covered Annual Boiler Service Starting Price (per month) Excess Options
Boiler Cover Boiler and controls only Yes (in year 2) £8.00 £60 / £100
Heating Cover Boiler, controls, and full central heating system Yes (in year 2) £10.00 £60 / £100
Heating & Plumbing Adds pipes, taps, toilets, radiators, and leak protection Yes (in year 2) £12.00 £60 / £100
Complete Cover Includes home electrics, drainage, and pest control Yes (in year 2) £15.00 £60 / £100

Note: In the first year, HomeServe can give you a special deal. You may only need to pay £1 each month when you start. But after that, at renewal, the price will most likely go up.

Do They Include an Annual Boiler Service?

Yes — but with a key difference:

  • British Gas gives you an annual boiler service in the first year. This comes with all HomeCare plans.
  • HomeServe gives you a free boiler service, but only in the second year. If you want a boiler service in the first year with them, you will have to pay for it.

What’s Included in an Annual Boiler Service?

  • The combi or system boiler will be looked at.
  • The inside parts will be cleaned.
  • The hot water output will be tested.
  • There will be a check for exclusions like the flue and warranty terms.
  • The pressure will be checked as well as leaks.

A regular boiler service helps keep you safe. It also makes your boiler work better. A service may help your warranty stay active for longer.

How Do They Handle Boiler Repairs and Callouts?

Both providers offer unlimited callouts for problems that the plan covers. They also pay for labour, parts, and engineer time if your claim is accepted.

Feature British Gas HomeServe
Unlimited Callouts Yes Yes
24/7 Helpline Yes Yes
Online Booking Yes Yes
Repair Times Within 24 hours (target) Same/next day (target)
Engineer Network In-house Third-party engineers
Boiler cover

Compare Boiler cover quotes

  • Boiler cover from only £6.99 a month
  • We provide nationwide coverage
  • 1 month Free
Compare Quotes

What Are the Main Exclusions?

All policies come with exclusions, so be sure to read the small print. These are some of the most common exclusions that both providers have:

  • Old boilers (these are usually 15 years old or even older)
  • Heat pumps, oil boilers, or LPG units
  • The system looks a bit damaged
  • Things that are already broken
  • Business buildings

Both British Gas and HomeServe have plans for your boiler. But these only cover some types and ages of boilers. If you want to make a claim, it will not work for any problem that started before you had a policy with them. They may not pay for anything that was wrong with your boiler before your cover began.

Which Provider Has Better Customer Service?

Customer experiences are not all the same. Here is a quick look at their Trustpilot scores in July 2025:

Provider Trustpilot Rating Number of Reviews
British Gas 3.9 / 5 150,000+
HomeServe 4.1 / 5 75,000+

HomeServe often gets better feedback from people. But British Gas has a lot more customers than HomeServe.

Common themes in poor customer service reviews:

  • There can be times when the engineer takes longer to get to you.
  • When it is time for renewal, you may get higher prices.
  • There is not much clear info about excess and exclusions.

Both of these providers have to follow the rules from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). They also need to keep to the right service agreements.

How Much Does Boiler Cover Cost Per Month?

Monthly costs can change based on the plan you pick, the postcode where you live, and the excess that you choose.

Provider Basic Plan (Boiler Only) Full Cover Plan (Everything) Excess Option
British Gas From £14.00 From £23.50 £60 or £100
HomeServe From £8.00 (year 2) From £15.00 (year 2) £60 or £100

Tip: Check first year pricing and what happens at renewal. HomeServe’s low upfront pricing may rise significantly.

What Extras Are Offered in Their Premium Plans?

Premium packages from both companies give you more than just basic help for your central heating system. You get extra features that help your whole heating system. With these plans, you can keep your central heating working well and as it should. The heating in your home will be better, and it can last for more time. These options are good if you want more help than just for your central heating. They can take care of other parts of your heating system, too. You will feel good knowing your heating is in good hands with these plans.

Feature British Gas HomeCare Four HomeServe Complete Cover
Central Heating Cover Yes Yes
Plumbing & Drains Yes Yes
Home Electrics Yes Yes
Pest Control Yes Yes
Roof and Security Yes No
Annual Boiler Service Included Year 1 Year 2+ only

British Gas offers some extra services. One of these is roof repair. HomeServe is a good choice if you want prices that are put together for many services. It also has strong cover for plumbing problems. British Gas and HomeServe both give something good if you need help with plumbing.

Can You Get Cover for an Old Boiler?

Most policies will not give cover for boilers that are over 15 years old. They also will not cover boilers if you have not got them checked or serviced lately.

Boiler Age British Gas HomeServe
< 10 Years Fully Eligible Fully Eligible
10–15 Years Accepted (with limits) Accepted (with limits)
15+ Years Not Covered Not Covered

If your boiler is old or does not work well, both could mean you need a new boiler. You will have to pay more for this.

Can You Get Cover for an Old Boiler

Correct as of 09 July 2025

FAQs About British Gas vs HomeServe Boiler Cover

Is boiler cover worth it for a combi boiler?

Yes. You will see a lot of combi boilers in many UK homes. Boiler cover can help give you peace of mind. It is there if there is a problem that stops your heating or hot water from working.

Do both providers include a free boiler service?

British Gas offers this in the first year. HomeServe includes it starting from year two unless you decide to pay for it by itself.

Are heat pumps or LPG boilers covered?

No. Neither company will cover heat pump systems, oil boilers, or LPG boilers.

What’s the difference in excess fees?

Both options let you choose an excess of either £60 or £100 for each claim. If you go for a higher excess, your monthly payment will be lower.

Which is better for overall customer service?

HomeServe has a slightly better score on Trustpilot. But British Gas covers more areas. It also has its own team of engineers to handle the work.

Also Read Related Articles

Boiler cover

Compare Boiler cover quotes

  • Boiler cover from only £6.99 a month
  • We provide nationwide coverage
  • 1 month Free
Compare Quotes
4000+ reviews