Hometree vs HomeServe: Boiler Cover Compared

Hometree vs HomeServe comes down to one key trade-off: HomeServe advertises a lower starting price of £6.49 per month that rises in year two, while Hometree starts higher at £12.95 per month but promises inflation-only renewal increases where you have not claimed. Both sell boiler and home-emergency cover rather than domestic energy tariffs, so neither affects the price you pay for your gas and electricity.

For a bill-conscious household already stretched by rising energy costs, the choice is less about the headline price and more about what you pay across two or three years, whether an annual boiler service is included, and what happens when your boiler is old or needs replacing. This comparison sets out the published prices, the excess options, the renewal behaviour and the practical questions worth asking before you commit to either plan.

Free Price Compare sources pricing from each provider’s own product pages and regulatory context from Ofgem, so you can weigh both the cover and the wider cost of running your home.

Last updated: November 2026

Written by the Free Price Compare editorial team | Reviewed November 2026

How do Hometree and HomeServe prices compare?

HomeServe advertises the lower starting price at £6.49 per month as an introductory rate, while Hometree starts from £12.95 per month on its published boiler plans (current prices shown early November 2026). The headline gap looks large, but HomeServe’s own Gas Boiler Cover page warns the introductory price rises after year one, giving an expected second-year figure of around £15.55 per month, or roughly £186.60 a year, for a customer who has not claimed. Hometree instead states that, where you have made no claims, renewal increases are inflation-only. The practical takeaway: compare the two-to-three-year cost, not the first-month price, because a low introductory rate that climbs can overtake a steadier premium within twelve months.

Neither product is an energy tariff, so it will not lower your unit rate or standing charge. If your main goal is cutting gas and electricity costs, start by making sure you are not overpaying on your tariff first, then decide whether breakdown cover is worth adding. You can compare big six energy suppliers to see where your deal sits.

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Does HomeServe put prices up at renewal?

HomeServe states on its own Gas Boiler Cover page that the introductory price rises after the first year. The published example moves from £6.49 per month initially to an expected £15.55 per month in year two for a customer who has not claimed, equivalent to around £186.60 annually. This is a known pattern with introductory-rate cover: the low first-year price is designed to win the sale, and the renewal reflects the provider’s standard rate. If you buy on the £6.49 figure, budget for the step up at month thirteen rather than assuming the opening price continues. HomeServe may offer time-limited discounts, so confirm any applicable promotion and its expiry at the point you get your quote.

Hometree takes a different stance, stating that where you have made no claims, renewal increases are inflation-only. That is a company claim rather than a regulated guarantee, so read the policy schedule to confirm exactly how renewals are calculated before relying on it. For a household watching every outgoing, a steadier renewal path can be easier to budget than a sharp year-two jump.

Does the annual boiler service come included from year one?

Hometree includes an annual boiler service within its core boiler plans at no extra cost, covering the boiler, flues and controls alongside emergency repairs. An annual service is the yearly safety and efficiency check a Gas Safe registered engineer carries out to keep your boiler running well and to protect your manufacturer warranty. HomeServe’s Gas Boiler Cover at the quoted introductory price is specifically breakdown cover, so you should confirm at quotation whether a service is bundled in or sold as an add-on. If you currently pay separately for a service, factoring that in can change which plan is better value, because a standalone service from an independent Gas Safe engineer typically costs money you would otherwise save with an all-in plan.

• Hometree: annual boiler service included in core plans.
• HomeServe: confirm whether the service is included or an add-on before buying.
• Any service should be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

If you want servicing bundled with wider heating protection, our guide to Hometree heating cover sets out what each plan tier includes.

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What if my boiler is over 10 years old?

An older boiler can still be covered, but replacement terms are where the two providers differ most, and age limits vary by plan, so check eligibility before you buy. Hometree states that boiler replacement is free where the boiler is less than seven years old, with eligibility conditions applying, and that there is no cap on repair costs outside of boiler replacements, subject to policy terms and exclusions. For a boiler over ten years old, repairs may be covered but a free replacement is unlikely under that seven-year rule, so you would need to budget for a new boiler yourself if the old one fails beyond economic repair. HomeServe’s terms and any replacement contribution should be read on the policy schedule at quotation, because cover for ageing boilers often carries exclusions for pre-existing faults or sludge-related damage.

A practical tip for older-boiler households: ask each provider directly whether they will cover a boiler of your exact age and model before you pay, and get the answer in the policy documents. If your boiler is near the end of its life, the long-term saving may come from replacing it with an efficient model rather than insuring an old one, since efficiency gains reduce the gas you burn each year.

What cover levels do Hometree and HomeServe offer?

Hometree’s plan range runs from boiler-only cover up to wider home emergencies, while HomeServe’s cited introductory price covers gas boiler breakdown specifically. Hometree describes three broad tiers: “Your Boiler” covers the boiler and controls, “Your Heating” extends to the wider central-heating system, and “Your Home” adds plumbing, drains and home electrics. HomeServe also sells home-emergency and plumbing and electrics cover separately, so the fair comparison is tier-for-tier, not the cheapest HomeServe boiler rate against Hometree’s broader plans. Because the products are not directly equivalent without checking each schedule, always match the cover level before comparing price.

Home emergency cover is protection against sudden household breakdowns such as a burst pipe, blocked drain, failed heating or a plumbing leak, usually with a 24-hour helpline and a contractor dispatched to make things safe. Deciding how far up the tiers to go depends on your home: a newer flat with modern plumbing may only need boiler cover, while an older house with lead pipework or a large central-heating system may benefit from the wider plan. If you are weighing a provider-linked option, our comparison of British Gas vs Hometree covers how an energy-supplier plan stacks up against a standalone insurer.

See Hometree heating cover plans

Is boiler cover worth it, or should you self-insure?

Boiler cover is worth it mainly for households that would struggle to fund an unexpected repair bill or who value a guaranteed engineer and an included annual service. A monthly plan trades a predictable cost for protection against a larger one-off charge, plus access to a 24-hour breakdown line. The alternative is to self-insure: set aside what you would pay in premiums each month and call an independent Gas Safe engineer when something breaks. For some households that is cheaper over time, particularly with a newer, reliable boiler that is unlikely to fail; for others, the certainty of a fixed monthly cost and bundled servicing wins. There is no single right answer, which is why the decision should turn on your boiler’s age, your savings buffer and how much a sudden repair would hurt your budget.

Watch the common catches whichever you choose: an excess reduces the value of small claims, pre-existing faults are usually excluded, and the first few weeks of a new policy often carry a waiting period before you can claim. With energy already a heavy cost for most homes, it is worth checking your tariff is competitive before adding another monthly bill. Our tips on cutting energy bills before winter can free up room in the budget either way.

How does the energy price cap affect this decision?

The Ofgem energy price cap is £1,723 per year for a typical household paying by direct debit for 1 October to 31 December 2026, according to Ofgem, a 4% increase on the previous period. The cap limits the unit rates and standing charge a typical user pays on a default tariff, not a fixed total bill, so your actual cost depends on how much gas and electricity you use. Boiler and home-emergency cover from Hometree or HomeServe sits entirely outside the cap, because these are service and insurance products rather than energy tariffs. That matters for budgeting: adding cover increases your monthly outgoings on top of your energy bill, so it is sensible to check your tariff is not sitting above the cap floor before committing.

For a bill-conscious household, the sequence is to get your energy tariff right first, then decide whether breakdown cover earns its place. If your bills have jumped, our breakdown of the impact of UK utility bill increases explains where the pressure is coming from, and you can also challenge utility bill increases if a rise looks wrong.

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Hometree or HomeServe: which should you choose?

Choose Hometree if you want predictable renewals and an included annual boiler service, and HomeServe if you want the lowest first-year price and will review the policy before the year-two increase. Hometree’s higher £12.95 starting price buys its inflation-only renewal claim, selectable excess of £0, £60 or £95, and servicing built into core plans, which suits households that want to set and forget a steady cost. HomeServe’s £6.49 introductory rate suits a short-term or budget-driven buyer who is comfortable shopping around again before the price steps up to around £15.55 a month, and who can absorb the £100 claim excess. Neither is universally cheaper, because the right answer depends on how long you keep the policy, your boiler’s age and which cover tier you actually need.

Before deciding, match the cover levels like-for-like, confirm whether servicing is included, check the replacement age rule against your boiler, and read how each handles renewal. Both providers are UK firms selling regulated insurance products, so you can refer a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service if cover is wrongly declined. If you want to look beyond these two, our guides to YourRepair heating cover and EDF heating cover give you more plans to weigh against Hometree and HomeServe.

• Compare Big Six Energy Suppliers UK – Prices & Reviews
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• British Gas Vs Hometree: Your 2026 UK Questions Answered
• Yourrepair Heating Cover: 7 Key Things to Know in 2026
• So Energy Home Cover: Protect Your Heating and Plumbing

Information correct as of 5 November 2026. Prices, tariffs, policy details and providers change frequently, so please check the latest details before making a decision. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Free Price Compare is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).