Boiler Cover With a Free Annual Service: Which Plans Actually Include It (Worth £60-£120)

Quick answer: which plans include a free annual service

Here's the short version. Most well-known UK providers now bundle the annual service into every plan, but a few limit it to the first year or to higher tiers. The figures below are indicative starting prices — your actual quote depends on boiler age, brand, location and the excess you pick.

Provider	Annual service	Stated value	Monthly from (indicative)
British Gas HomeCare	Included (all tiers)	Bundled	varies by tier/boiler
YourRepair	Included (every year)	Bundled	from ~£9/mth (boiler-only)
WarmZilla	Included (every plan)	Bundled	from ~£11/mth (with excess)
PlusHeat	Included (all plans)	Bundled	from £4.99/mth (3-mth intro)
OpenFix	Included (every plan)	"worth £99"	confirm on quote
UW Boiler & Home Cover	Included	Bundled	confirm on quote
Boiler Sure	Included	Bundled	confirm on quote
Hometree	Included (all plans)	Bundled	from £12.95/mth
HomeServe	Free first year, then chargeable / add-on	Varies	confirm on quote
CORGI HomePlan	Included on plans with a service; provider-scheduled	Varies	confirm on quote

Prices are indicative "from" figures, last checked 2026 — confirm your own quote on the provider's page. See how much boiler cover costs per month for the full picture, and our best boiler cover plans for 2026 for the panel we rate.

How much is an annual boiler service worth?

A standalone annual boiler service typically costs £60-£120 for a gas combi or system boiler in the UK in 2026, with around £100-£120 a common average. London and the South East tend to sit at the top of that range; other regions often run cheaper.

Oil and LPG boilers usually cost more to service — commonly £100-£200 for oil and roughly £90-£120 for LPG, partly because fewer engineers are qualified for them and the checks can take longer.

That's why providers headline the bundled service. OpenFix, for example, describes its included service as "worth £99", and the wider market typically pitches a service somewhere in the £80-£120 band. On paper, that can be most of a cheaper plan's annual cost handed back to you in one visit.

Comparison table: providers and how the free service works in 2026

This is the part many comparison pages hedge on with "often" and "depends". Here is a labelled breakdown of our selected panel. Terms change, so confirm each on the provider's own page before you rely on it.

Provider	Status	Notes
British Gas HomeCare	Included	Annual service included on all HomeCare tiers, plus unlimited call-outs; new or pre-existing-issue boilers may need an initial inspection first.
YourRepair	Included	Free annual service stated as included every year of the agreement; Gas Safe registered engineers, unlimited call-outs.
WarmZilla	Included	Service included on every plan across the range; premium depends heavily on the excess you choose.
PlusHeat	Included	Annual servicing stated on all plans, from entry-level boiler-only to comprehensive cover; opening price is a 3-month intro rate that then rises.
OpenFix	Included	Service described as "worth £99" on home & boiler cover, by a Gas Safe registered engineer; OpenFix states services are carried out March-September so it can prioritise winter breakdowns.
UW Boiler & Home Cover	Included	Annual service stated as included for cover customers. Utility Warehouse is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 766672) — this is regulated insurance.
Boiler Sure	Included	Free annual servicing stated as a standard feature; parts and labour included, no-excess options promoted.
Hometree	Included	Hometree states the annual service is included on all its boiler/heating/home plans; the price difference between tiers is the excess and the breadth of cover, not the service.
HomeServe	First year only, then chargeable / add-on	HomeServe states the service is free in the first year; subsequent annual services are charged (commonly around £120) or taken as a paid add-on, not free every year.
CORGI HomePlan	Included where the plan has a service	On plans that include it, CORGI schedules the service for you (typically March-October) rather than leaving you to book it. Note an initial 30-day period from sign-up during which you cannot claim — this applies generally, to discourage claims on pre-existing faults.

If you're weighing the two best-known names, our HomeServe vs British Gas comparison goes deeper on what each includes.

What's typically included in the annual service

A boiler service is a planned maintenance check, not a repair. A Gas Safe registered engineer will usually:

• Visually inspect the boiler, pipework and surrounding area for leaks, corrosion or damage.
• Check gas pressure and flow to confirm the boiler is burning correctly.
• Run a flue and combustion test (flue gas analysis) to check the boiler is burning safely and efficiently.
• Carry out a carbon monoxide (CO) and safe-operation check to confirm the boiler is not spilling dangerous gases.
• Inspect seals and key components for wear.
• Test controls and safety devices, including the pressure-relief valve.
• Check the condensate trap and pipe for blockages.
• Check the magnetic filter (where fitted) for sludge build-up.

What a service is not: it is not a power flush, not a repair, and not a fix for an existing fault. If the engineer finds a problem, that's a separate repair — and any policy excess can still apply. Exactly what's checked varies by provider and boiler, so treat the above as typical, not guaranteed.

The catches: when the "free" service isn't really free

This is where the marketing and the small print can diverge. Watch for these:

• Off-peak or deferred timing. Some providers carry out services in warmer months (for example OpenFix states March-September, CORGI typically March-October) so they can prioritise winter breakdowns. There can also be an initial waiting period before you can claim. You're paying from day one, but the service visit may be months away.
• Use-it-or-lose-it. The service is usually valid only within the policy year. Skip a year and you don't get two next year — you simply lose that year's value.
• You may have to book it yourself. Some providers expect you to arrange the visit; others (like CORGI) schedule it for you. Where it's on you, no booking can mean no service — and no refund of the value you didn't use. Check which applies.
• A missed service can affect cover. On some plans, not having the annual service done can weaken or affect a later breakdown claim, because the provider may argue the fault was avoidable. Read the policy on this point.
• Excess still applies to repairs. The service may be free, but if it uncovers a fault, fixing it is a claim — and your policy excess (often £0 up to around £95) can still apply.

These are the conditions that can turn a "free service" into something you paid for and never used. For the wider list of exclusions, see what boiler cover doesn't cover.

Is a service-included plan actually worth it?

Do the maths on the uplift, not the headline. Compare what a service-included tier costs versus the cheapest breakdown-only option, then weigh that gap against the £60-£120 you'd pay a local engineer. The figures below are illustrative — run them on your own quote.

Scenario (illustrative)	Extra you pay for "service included"	What it suggests
Uplift ~£3-£5/mth (~£36-£60/yr)	Less than a £60-£120 standalone service	Often good value — you get the service and repair cover too
Uplift ~£6-£8/mth (~£72-£96/yr)	Roughly equal to the service value	Closer to break-even — judge it on the repair cover, not the service
Uplift £10+/mth (£120+/yr)	More than the standalone service	You may be paying twice — consider buying the service separately

A service-included plan tends to make most sense when your boiler is older and likelier to fail, when your manufacturer's warranty requires an annual service, or when you're a landlord wanting one engineer relationship across properties. The repair cover is usually the bigger prize — a single fan (around £225-£275), pump (around £200-£400) or heat exchanger (£450-£750) can cost more than a year's premium. See is boiler cover actually worth it for the full cost-benefit. Claim limits and any new-boiler contribution vary by provider, so check the limits on the specific plan you're quoted.

Boiler cover vs a standalone service plan vs paying as you go

Three different products often get muddled:

• Boiler/heating cover — pays for breakdowns and repairs, usually with an annual service bundled. This is what most of this page is about. It may be FCA-regulated insurance or an unregulated service plan, so check which.
• Standalone service plan — a fixed monthly fee (for example, roughly £7-£12/mth) that buys you the annual service only, with no repair cover. Good if you only want the service and will pay for repairs yourself.
• Pay as you go — book a one-off service each year (£60-£120) and pay for any repair when it happens. Cheapest if nothing breaks; expensive if something major does.

If you mainly want the safety check and not the repair cover, a standalone service plan or pay-as-you-go can work out cheaper. Read what boiler cover actually is to be sure you're comparing the right products.

Does the annual service keep my warranty valid?

Often, yes — and this is one of the stronger reasons to keep up the service. Many boiler manufacturers make an annual service by a Gas Safe registered engineer a condition of the guarantee, which can run anywhere from a few years up to 10 or 12 years.

Miss a year, or lose the paper trail, and the manufacturer may be able to refuse a warranty claim. A cover plan that bundles the service — and logs it — can quietly help protect that warranty for you.

Always check your own boiler's warranty terms, as some brands specify the service must be recorded in the benchmark logbook or registered online within a set window.

How to claim or book your free service

The mechanics are simple, but the timing trips people up:

• Check who books it — some providers schedule the service for you; others expect you to call or use an app/portal. Don't assume.
• Use it within the policy year — if it's on you to book, set a reminder for around month 10-11 so you don't run out of time before renewal.
• A Gas Safe registered engineer should attend — they should show their Gas Safe ID card on arrival, and you can check the registration number on the Gas Safe Register.
• Keep the paperwork — the service record helps protect both your warranty and any future claim.

If you're a landlord, see the next section — the service is not the same as your legal gas safety certificate.

Landlords: a service is not a CP12 (and what cover gives you)

This catches a lot of landlords out. A CP12 gas safety certificate is not the same as a service:

• A CP12 / Gas Safety Record is a legal requirement — every rented property must have its gas appliances checked annually and a record given to tenants.
• A service is voluntary maintenance to keep the boiler running well and the warranty intact.

Some landlord cover plans bundle a CP12, some bundle a service, and some include both — but they are distinct, and a "free annual service" does not automatically mean you're legally compliant. Check exactly what's included before you rely on it. Our boiler cover for landlords guide breaks down which plans include the CP12. British Gas HomeCare, meanwhile, is one of the homeowner plans that includes an annual service as standard.

This article is general information, not financial or gas-safety advice. We compare a selected panel of providers, not the whole market, and may earn a commission if you buy through our links. Always have gas appliances checked and repaired by a Gas Safe registered engineer; in a gas emergency call 0800 111 999. Prices are indicative UK guides for 2026 — confirm current prices on the provider's own site.