Smart Plan vs British Gas HomeCare
Two different approaches to looking after your boiler. Here's a plain, side-by-side look at how each one works, so you can decide what suits your home.
How the two approaches compare
Smart Plan and British Gas HomeCare take different approaches to boiler cover. Smart Plan is a modular service plan - you build cover from seven modules and pay only for what you pick. HomeCare is sold as fixed tiers. This page compares the two approaches plainly; it is not a claim that one is cheaper or better.
The right choice depends on your home, your boiler and how you like to buy. Some people prefer picking a ready-made tier and being done with it. Others would rather build their own cover and leave out the bits they don't need. Below we set out how Smart Plan works and where the two ideas differ, so you can weigh it up yourself.
Key facts
The short version, before you read on:
- Smart Plan is a modular, build-your-own service plan - pick only the modules you want
- British Gas HomeCare is sold as fixed tiers of cover
- This is a descriptive comparison, not a price claim - build your plan to see your own price
- Smart Plan is a service plan from UK Boiler Company Ltd, not insurance
- A £95 call-out fee applies in defined cases, and cover limits apply per module - both explained below
- Monthly rolling, but a 12-month agreement period begins once you use a service
Two different approaches
The clearest difference is how the cover is put together. British Gas HomeCare is offered as fixed tiers - you choose a level, and each level bundles a set list of things together. It's a familiar, one-package way to buy.
Smart Plan works the other way round. Instead of tiers, there are seven modules - boiler and central heating, plumbing, drainage, electrical, appliances, pest control and home security. You start with what matters most to you, usually the boiler, and add or leave out the rest. You only pay for the modules you pick, which is where the phrase "don't pay for what you don't use" comes from.
Fixed tiers vs build-your-own
Neither approach is automatically the better one. A fixed tier can be simpler if you want everything in a single bundle. A modular plan can suit you if you'd rather cover just the boiler, or the boiler plus one or two other things, without paying for parts of a package you'll never use. It comes down to how much you want to tailor your cover.
Smart Plan is a service plan, not insurance. It's a membership with the cover you've chosen, rather than an insurance product, and when something covered goes wrong we'll come and fix it for you.
What Smart Plan offers
With Smart Plan, parts and labour are included up to your cover limit for each module you choose, and repairs are carried out by a national network of vetted, Gas Safe registered engineers. Your cover limit is the most we'll put towards covered repairs during each 12-month period, and it varies by module.
We're upfront about the costs, too. A £95 call-out fee, paid in advance before an engineer attends, applies in four situations: during the first 30 days of a new agreement; where the issue falls under an exclusion; where our engineer can't get access to your property; and if you request your annual service within the first 30 days. Your price for the cover itself is quoted when you build your plan, so you only ever pay for the modules you choose.
Monthly rolling, with an honest bit of small print
Smart Plan cover is monthly rolling. Once you use a service, a 12-month minimum agreement period begins - so it isn't a case of leaving the moment you've had a repair. If you leave during that period, you'll need to pay the remaining monthly payments, or 75% of the outstanding balance as a one-off payment. You also have a 14-day cooling-off period when you first sign up, which ends if a service is carried out during that time. Our terms and conditions explain this in full.
When we'll come out
Call-outs under your cover plan are carried out Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 18:00, unless it's a genuine emergency breakdown. If you ever smell gas or suspect carbon monoxide, leave it to the experts: call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 straight away, and always use a Gas Safe registered engineer for any work on your boiler or gas appliances. Never attempt gas repairs yourself.
Smart Plan cover limits
| Module | Cover limit per 12-month period |
|---|---|
| Boiler & central heating (under 7 years old) | Up to £500 |
| Boiler & central heating (over 7 years old) | Up to £200 |
| Plumbing | Up to £500 |
| Drainage | Up to £500 |
| Electrical | Up to £500 |
| Home security | Up to £500 |
| Pest control | Up to £500 |
| Appliances | Up to £225 per appliance |
Why people compare at renewal
A lot of people look at their boiler cover when a renewal comes round. Cover prices are often reviewed each year, and a renewal figure can look different from what you first signed up for. That's a natural moment to stop and ask whether the cover you have still matches what you actually need.
It's also a good time to check what you're paying for. If your current plan bundles in things you don't use, a modular plan lets you strip it back to the cover you'll genuinely draw on. If you value having everything in one fixed package, a tiered plan may still suit you better. There's no single right answer - the point is simply to check that your cover fits your home, rather than renewing on autopilot.
Which suits your home?
If you'd like a single, ready-made bundle and don't want to think about which parts you need, a fixed tier can be the straightforward choice. If you'd rather build your own cover - boiler only, or boiler plus a couple of extras - and pay for just those, Smart Plan's modular approach is designed for exactly that.
The easiest way to see what a Smart Plan looks like for your home is to build one. Pick your modules and you'll get your own price, rather than trying to compare headline figures that may not be like-for-like. If you'd prefer to talk it through first, give us a call and we'll help you work out what you actually need.
Smart Plan vs British Gas HomeCare: your questions
Is Smart Plan cheaper than British Gas HomeCare?
It depends on the modules you choose. Smart Plan is modular, so the best way to see your price is to build your plan rather than comparing headline figures. Because you only pay for the modules you pick, two homes can end up with very different prices.
What is the difference between Smart Plan and British Gas HomeCare?
Smart Plan is a modular service plan you build from seven modules - boiler, plumbing, drainage, electrical, appliances, pest control and home security. British Gas HomeCare is sold as fixed tiers. They are two different approaches to boiler cover, and neither is automatically better; it depends on how you like to buy.
Is Smart Plan insurance?
No. Smart Plan is a service plan from UK Boiler Company Ltd, not insurance. It's a membership with the cover you've chosen, and when something covered goes wrong we'll arrange a vetted, Gas Safe registered engineer to come and put it right, up to your cover limit.
Is there a call-out fee with Smart Plan?
Yes. A £95 call-out fee, paid in advance before an engineer attends, applies in four situations: during the first 30 days of a new agreement; where the issue falls under an exclusion; where our engineer can't get access to your property; and if you request your annual service within the first 30 days. We're upfront about it so there are no surprises.
Can I switch to Smart Plan and just cover my boiler?
Yes. You can start with the boiler and central heating module alone and add other modules whenever you like. Smart Plan cover is monthly rolling, though once you use a service a 12-month minimum agreement period begins - our terms and conditions explain this in full.
See what a Smart Plan looks like for your home
Build your own cover in minutes - pick the boiler module, add anything else you want, and get your own price. Prefer to talk it through? Call us on 0333 772 6247.
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2nd Floor, Melrose House
42 Dingwall Road
Croydon
CR0 2NE