@technogeek How refreshingly pleasing this sounds for any insurance company / policy! 😉

Posted by: @technogeek

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Interesting. We are with Aviva Insurance and I read another article regarding heat pump insurance cover so I called them. Aviva Insurance class a heat pump as part of the heating system \ building fabric so do not require any special notification due to its value (as you do with contents over a certain threshold value) or any additional add on cover.

Policy Expert Buildings insurance has the definition of "Building" in the policy as "....Buildings also includes the permanent fixtures and fittings in or mounted upon the buildings that could not easily be removed and reused, such as fixed solar panels (that have been professionally installed), fixed
sanitary fittings (for example, toilets, sinks and baths) and laminated, wood-effect or vinyl floor coverings."

Which is not definitive but would certainly make an arguable case. Certainly is not part of the Contents!

On a related note, are solar panels “contents” too?

I think their strange logic is that solar panels are physically attached and part of the building whereas the heat pump is not.

Anyway, Aviva will cover and Direct Line wont.

A heat pump is just as attached to the building as the bath in their logic.

@abernyte … and outside pipework come to that!

It does seem to be an insurer by insurer question. When I completed my insurance scope statement/description, there was no specific ASHP option. So I picked “electric heating”. I called to explain and the agent seemed fine with “electric”. But I got a call back a few days later saying they would have to put a change in, to adjust the insurance to ASHP. Uh oh I thought, price rise. But no cost change and ASHP noted on the insurance. 

@julianc I should imagine that there is a much lower chance of damage to the fabric of the building from a heat pump failure than that from a gas boiler going amok! Regards, Toodles.

@toodles agreed Toodles. I think it’s the old “something different” so insurance companies need to catch up with the market

@julianc that's really positive. Who's the insurer?

@editor I am with Policy Expert for buildings & contents insurance. 
Please use this link if anyone chooses to take out insurance with them and I receive a bonus:

https://policyexpert.mention-me.com/m/ol/sm3ql-julian-clarke  

That's strange.

Policy Expert are who I am currently with and spoke to earlier this week.

I have contacted them again and they quote their underwriters and say "the outside pump, as it's not attached to the building, is classed as contents in the open and as such under my silver policy is covered up to a value of £350". Gold policy has a cover of £1,000.

The fact that it is sitting on a concrete slab and not physically attached to the building seems to be the deciding factor.