Short answer: A boiler service plan is worth it if you want reminders and the cost of a yearly service spread out. It is not the same as boiler cover, which is insurance for repairs. For a new boiler under a maker's guarantee, paying once a year is often enough. For older boilers, cover may suit if its exclusions fit your system.
Plans and cover are sold hard every autumn, just as people turn the heating on. Before you sign up, it helps to separate what you are actually buying.
Three ways to pay
| Option | What it is | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Pay as you go | Book and pay for a service each year | Newer boilers under guarantee, people who like to choose |
| Service plan | Monthly payment covering the yearly service, often with booking reminders | People who want the cost spread and the date handled |
| Boiler cover | Insurance that pays for some repairs, often with a service included | Older boilers, people who want repair costs capped |
Boiler cover is an insurance product. Its terms decide what is paid for.
The cost comparison
For a sense of the yearly service cost alone, the Checkatrade cost guide puts a one off gas boiler service at £80 to £120 across the UK. These are UK averages, not London quotes.
To compare, multiply a plan’s monthly price by 12 and look at what you get for that total. If it only covers the service, compare it with what a one off service costs you. If it includes repairs, look at the excess, the limits and the exclusions.
The small print to check
- Is the service a full service? Case off, combustion test, written record.
- Call out charge or excess? Some cover has a fee each time you claim.
- Age limits? Some cover refuses or limits older boilers.
- Pre existing faults? Most policies exclude faults that existed before you joined, and some need a check first.
- Sludge and limescale? Many policies exclude damage caused by sludge or scale, or require a power flush before they pay.
- Price after year one? Some go up at renewal.
- Cancellation? How easy is it to leave?
- Who does the work? Gas Safe registered engineers, and how quickly they can come.
Why London’s water matters here
Thames Water says all the water in its region is hard. Older London heating systems also often carry sludge. If a cover policy excludes damage caused by scale or sludge, a fair number of real London faults, such as a scaled combi heat exchanger or a pump worn by sludge, might not be paid for. Ask how the insurer judges that.
New boilers
Most new boilers from the main makers come with a guarantee that covers faults for its term, as long as you meet the conditions, which usually include a yearly service. Worcester Bosch and Vaillant both make a yearly service a condition. In that situation, repair cover can overlap with what you already have. What you must not miss is the service itself. Our post on missed services and warranties covers each maker.
Older boilers
Once the guarantee has ended, the choice is more personal. Some people prefer the certainty of cover. Others put money aside and pay for repairs when needed. Either way, a yearly service catches small faults before they become breakdowns.
Bromley family homes
In Bromley, Beckenham and Orpington, many larger houses have system or regular boilers with cylinders, pumps, motorised valves and loft tanks. More parts mean more things that can fail. Check whether a cover policy includes the cylinder, the controls and the pump, or only the boiler. Our Bromley area page covers the housing there, and our post on regular boilers with cylinders explains the parts.
Landlords
Landlords with several properties often care most about keeping every gas safety record in date. A plan with reminders can help, but so can a simple list of addresses and due dates, booked two months early. Check whether a plan includes the landlord gas safety record or treats it as an extra.
A simple way to decide
Ask yourself three questions. How old is the boiler, and is it still in its maker’s guarantee? Would a repair bill of a few hundred pounds cause real trouble this winter? Do you reliably remember to book the service yourself? If the boiler is new and you remember the service, paying once a year is usually enough. If the boiler is older and a surprise bill would hurt, cover may be worth the monthly cost, once you have read the exclusions. If you keep forgetting the service, a plan or a calendar reminder solves that.
Our approach
We do not invent plan prices on this site. For a pay as you go service, we confirm the price when you book. If you are weighing up a third party plan or cover, use the questions above and compare the yearly total, not just the monthly figure. Our boiler service plans explained page sets this out in brief.
Gas work in the UK must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Whoever you use, check the ID card and the Gas Safe Register.
Quick questions
Does a service plan include repairs?
Some do, some do not. A plan that only covers the service is different from cover that pays for repairs. Read the terms.
Do I need cover if my boiler is under guarantee?
The maker's guarantee covers many faults while it runs, as long as you meet its conditions, usually including a yearly service.
Are limescale and sludge covered?
Often not. Many cover policies exclude damage from sludge or scale, which matters on London's hard water.
Last updated 23 October 2026. Written for homes in London. Rules can change, so check the linked sources for the latest position.