Emergency home assist
At the date of publication, Compare the Market doesn’t compare policies with emergency home assist, so this information is a guide only. However, you can compare standard home insurance policies through our comparison service.
What is emergency home assist?
Emergency home assist provides trade services in the event of a home emergency. These emergencies can range from burst pipes to locking yourself out of your home.
An emergency home assist plan can be purchased as either a standalone product or optional cover in some home insurance policies. Only homeowners or rental managing agents can purchase emergency home assist and there may also be geographic limitations, as some insurers might not service certain areas in Australia.
Always read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or policy terms and conditions for more information on home assist terms, exclusions and limits. The Target Market Determination (TMD) may also help you figure out if the home insurance policy is right for your situation.
What does emergency home assist cover?
Emergency home assist can cover tradespeople’s expenses for unforeseen incidents that happen around your home. These instances typically require emergency work from plumbers, electricians or locksmiths.
Some insurers may offer emergency home assist as a 24/7 service. However, there may be a limit on the number of emergency call-outs that are covered during the policy period.
Emergency trade services may be covered for the following unforeseen incidents:
Plumbing
- Blocked toilet
- Burst pipes
- Gas leaks
- Heating and cooling system faults
- Internal leaks from pipes in your walls or roof
- Leaks from gutters on your roof
- Plumbing-related hot water system issues.
Electrical
- Power failures
- Broken air-conditioning
- Electrical hot water system issues
- Internal leaks affecting light fixtures.
Locksmith
- Broken doors and locks
- If you’re locked out of home.
What does emergency home assist not cover?
Emergency home assist typically won’t cover the following:
- General maintenance and preventative services
- Disaster response services
- Repairs that aren’t urgent.
How do I get emergency assistance to my home?
If something around your home requires urgent attention and it’s one of the insured events, you can call your insurer’s emergency assistance line. On the call, a consultant typically assesses your situation and need for emergency assistance. If you’re eligible, your insurer will organise a tradie (e.g. a plumber or an electrician) for you.
If the trade service can’t be performed within your policy’s specified call-out period, your insurer will generally discuss your options to complete the repairs.
Meet our home and contents insurance expert, Adrian Taylor
As a General Insurance expert with over 13 years’ experience in financial services, Adrian Taylor works to make it easier for homeowners, renters and landlords to protect their home and contents. He believes it’s important for all residents (whether they rent, own or lease) to have adequate financial cover for their property and belongings in case the worse should happen.