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Does home insurance pay for a plumber or locksmith in an emergency?
Buy at these prices through Shenton Insurance Brokers: https://shentonbrokers.com/covers/does-home-insurance-pay-for-a-plumber-or-locksmith-in-an-emergency
Home insurance promotions today: HL Assurance, 6 months free; Etiqa, 25% off; Sompo, 25% off. Prices shown include discounts from featured insurers; other insurers are shown at full price with no discount.
On many plans. 8 of the 20 insurers we compare pay for emergency call-outs such as a locksmith, plumber or electrician, usually S$100 to S$150 each, 2 to 4 times a year; 4 arrange help by phone but leave some or all of the cost with you. Some pay nothing in the first 1 to 3 months.
The figures
- Insurers compared: 20, with 105 plans between them.
- Insurers with at least one plan that covers it: 12.
- Insurers that exclude it on every plan: 1.
- Insurers whose documents do not say: 7.
- Cheapest plan that covers it, for HDB flat, owner, S$60,000 contents: Sompo HomeVital for HDB owners (your contents sum, plus renovations S$40,000 and building S$100,000), S$67.85.
- Median price among the insurers that cover it, for the same example: S$122.61.
What each insurer says
| Insurer | Covered? | What the policy says | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| SompoYesfrom S$67.85 | Yes | HomeVital for HDB owners (your contents sum, plus renovations S$40,000 and building S$100,000)12 of its 12 plans24/7 emergency home assistance: Up to S$100 an incident, 4 incidents a year (plumbing, electrical, locksmith, pest control and aircon repair; hotline 6221 3393) | S$67.85Buy Now |
| IncomeYesfrom S$71.22 | Yes | Enhanced Home Insurance, HDB flat, without building cover (for owners whose HDB fire insurance covers the flat; contents and S$60,000 renovations)14 of its 14 plans24/7 emergency home assistance: Helpline that sends a plumber, electrician, locksmith, pest control or air-con repairer, up to S$150 each time, 4 times a year (a free service outside the policy contract; no pest control in the first 30 days) | S$71.22Buy Now |
| AIGYesfrom S$75.76 | Yes | Homes Essential (HDB and condominium only)4 of its 4 plans24/7 emergency home assistance: Complimentary AIG HomeCare call-outs (plumbing, electrical, locksmith, pest control, air-con) up to S$150 each, three a year; a 1-month wait for electrical, pest control, plumbing and air-con | S$75.76Buy Now |
| UOIYesfrom S$82.95 | Yes | UniHome Insurance, HDB flat (contents only, no renovation cover, no building cover)6 of its 6 plans24/7 emergency home assistance: Locksmith, plumber, electrician, air-con engineer or pest control: 2 call-outs a year, up to S$100 each | S$82.95Buy Now |
| FWDYesfrom S$98.78 | Yes | FWD Home Insurance, HDB flat (renovations S$20,000 and the S$82,000 building included; 3/4-room pricing)7 of its 7 plans24/7 emergency home assistance: Up to S$100 a service, 4 times a year: plumbing, electrical, locksmith and air-con repairs through FWD's hotline (no spare parts) | S$98.78Buy Now |
| EQ InsuranceYesfrom S$163.50 | Yes | EQ HomeGUARD PLUS Superior3 of its 3 plans24/7 emergency home assistance: Helpline for a locksmith, plumber, electrician, air-con engineer or pest control; emergency repairs up to S$100 each event, 3 events a year; not in the first 3 months | S$163.50Buy Now |
| LibertyYesfrom S$222.36 | Yes | Liberty HomeCare Top-up Plan (Plan C topped up to your contents sum)5 of its 5 plans24/7 emergency home assistance: Liberty helpline arranges and pays up to S$100 an event for emergency repairs, 2 events a year | S$222.36Buy Now |
| Great EasternYesfrom S$291.04 | Yes | Superior3 of its 4 plans24/7 emergency home assistance: S$150 per event, up to 2 events a year (locksmith, plumbing, electrical, air-con, pest control), reimbursed; not for services needed in the first month of the policy | S$291.04Buy Now |
| MSIGYes, with limitsfrom S$99.84 | Yes, with limits | HomeEasy Gold (owner or landlord)7 of its 11 plans24/7 emergency home assistance: 24-hour MSIG Assist helpline: telephone medical advice, private medical transport, and plumber, electrician and locksmith referrals and house calls (you pay the service provider) | S$99.84Buy Now |
| HL AssuranceYes, with limitsfrom S$145.38 | Yes, with limits | Home Protect360 Silver (S$100,000 contents; annual, 12 monthly premiums)4 of its 4 plans24/7 emergency home assistance: Hotline for a locksmith, plumber, electrician, air-con engineer or pest control: one call-out a year paid up to S$100, not in the first 90 days; other services by referral at your cost | S$145.38Buy Now |
| ChubbYes, with limitsfrom S$226.76 | Yes, with limits | DBS myHome Protect II Premium (underwritten by Chubb)3 of its 3 plans24/7 emergency home assistance: 24-hour helpline that refers and arranges a nurse, locksmith, plumber, air-con engineer, pest control or repairer; you pay their charges | S$226.76Buy Now |
| SinglifeYes, with limitsfrom S$243.89 | Yes, with limits | Home Plus (S$100,000 contents)3 of its 3 plans24/7 emergency home assistance: 24-hour helpline that refers locksmiths, plumbers, electricians, air-con engineers and pest control; you pay their charges | S$243.89Buy Now |
| EtiqaNofrom S$79.91 | No | Tiq Home Insurance, HDB flat, without building cover (for owners whose HDB fire insurance covers the flat)7 of its 7 plans24/7 emergency home assistance: Not in the 1-year price shown: on 3- and 5-year plans, a 24/7 hotline sends a locksmith, plumber, electrician or pest control, up to S$200 an event, 4 times a year | S$79.91Buy Now |
| ERGONot statedfrom S$88.94 | Not stated | ERGO HomeSecure Custom (contents only, no building or renovation cover)9 of its 9 plansThe plan's documents do not mention it. | S$88.94Buy Now |
| QBENot statedfrom S$109.00 | Not stated | Home Prestige (contents S$200,000, plus building, fixtures and renovations S$100,000)The plan's documents do not mention it. | S$109.00Buy Now |
| ECICSNot statedfrom S$118.81 | Not stated | Home Contents Insurance for owners (1-year; S$30,000 renovations; 4-room or larger unit)2 of its 2 plansThe plan's documents do not mention it. | S$118.81Buy Now |
| AllianzNot statedfrom S$153.69 | Not stated | Home Protect Gold (S$60,000 contents, S$90,000 renovations)3 of its 3 plansThe plan's documents do not mention it. | S$153.69Buy Now |
| LonpacNot statedfrom S$228.90 | Not stated | Home Protection, contents cover (owner occupied; free S$1m family liability and family PA)2 of its 2 plansThe plan's documents do not mention it. | S$228.90Buy Now |
| India InternationalNot statedfrom S$258.88 | Not stated | i-Home (your contents sum, plus fixtures and renovations S$50,000)The plan's documents do not mention it. | S$258.88Buy Now |
| Great AmericanNot statedfrom S$272.50 | Not stated | Great Home Insurance Elite (S$60,000 contents)4 of its 4 plansThe plan's documents do not mention it. | S$272.50Buy Now |
All prices include 9% GST. A dash means the plan has no price for this example. Each insurer's policy wording is the final word on what is covered.
See every insurer's price for your own answers, with each plan's cover side by side.
Compare home insuranceBuy Now addresses
Each listed insurer's best-value plan for HDB flat, owner, S$60,000 contents, lowest premium first.
- Sompo, HomeVital for HDB owners (your contents sum, plus renovations S$40,000 and building S$100,000): https://www.sompo.com.sg/products/home/quotation/GetQuote?p=STI33804
- AIG, Homes Essential (HDB and condominium only): https://www.aig.sg/home/solutions/personal/home-insurance/homes-essential?pc=030303
- Etiqa, Tiq Home Insurance, HDB flat, without building cover (for owners whose HDB fire insurance covers the flat): https://www.tiq.com.sg/buy-online/home-insurance/quotation/?referral=A501895
- Income, Enhanced Home Insurance, HDB flat (building and S$60,000 renovations included): https://shentonbrokers.com/go/buy/home/income/hdb-owner?occupancy=owner&propertyType=hdb&contentsSum=60000
- MSIG, HomeEasy Gold (owner or landlord): https://shentonbrokers.com/go/msig/home-homeeasy
- QBE, Home Prestige (contents S$200,000, plus building, fixtures and renovations S$100,000): https://sg-customer.qbe.com/home/partner/01001305
- ERGO, ERGO HomeSecure Smart or Enhanced (plan by property type and contents sum): https://shentonbrokers.com/go/buy/home/ergo/homesecure?occupancy=owner&propertyType=hdb&contentsSum=60000
- HL Assurance, Home Protect360 Silver (S$100,000 contents; annual, 12 monthly premiums): https://app.hlas.com.sg/redirect?source=agent&sac=SI000001&mwc=SIB&referrer=a/a/vivien
- Liberty, Liberty HomeCare Top-up Plan (Plan C topped up to your contents sum): https://shentonbrokers.com/go/buy/home/liberty/top-up?occupancy=owner&propertyType=hdb&contentsSum=60000
- Great American, Great Home Insurance Elite (S$60,000 contents): https://shentonbrokers.com/go/buy/home/great-american/elite?occupancy=owner&propertyType=hdb&contentsSum=60000
Questions people ask
Does home insurance pay for a plumber or locksmith in an emergency?
On many plans. 8 of the 20 insurers we compare pay for emergency call-outs such as a locksmith, plumber or electrician, usually S$100 to S$150 each, 2 to 4 times a year; 4 arrange help by phone but leave some or all of the cost with you. Some pay nothing in the first 1 to 3 months.
Where do these answers come from?
From each insurer's own policy documents: the benefit table and exclusions of every live plan we compare, 105 plans from 20 insurers. The policy wording is the final word on what is covered.
Which plan is cheapest?
For HDB flat, owner, S$60,000 contents, Sompo HomeVital for HDB owners (your contents sum, plus renovations S$40,000 and building S$100,000) is the cheapest plan that covers it, at S$67.85 today, GST included. The median of each insurer's lowest price is S$122.61.