I want to re-initiate this thread and topic, and ask the new members on the site if their home insurance policies cover their ASHPs? 

Yes my heat pump is insured.

I changed to Ecclesiastical as my previous insurer Policy Expert said they would not cover the heat pump.

In the Ecclesiastical October 2023 changes to the policy, they specifically say that air and ground source heat pumps are included in their definition of the "Building".

I'm just about to renew my policy so when I find a new one I'll check. I don't recall any Buildings policy actually asking about my heating system. 

@lucia I wonder if it’ll be included under your home emergency cover.

This years Buildings Insurance offering is with the AA who don't specifically include the heat pump but do define the buildings Fixtures and Fittings as " any central heating equipment, boiler or storage heater", which should cover it if required.

@editor I have never had home emergency cover. I am shoe-string productions here. But I doubt Home Emergency covers repairs, without a written reference to a heating system or specifically, a heat pump. 

But I will pay attention when I renew my policy and report back. Buildings cover should automatically cover whatever is installed as a system I would've thought?  

Meanwhile, so far, no one ever asks me about my wood burner either.  🤷🏻‍♀️

We just renewed with Directline and I specifically asked if there was any kind of exclusion or explicit mention of heat pumps. The person I talked to couldn't see anything immediately so offered to investigate and call me back the following day, and the answer when it came was that they do not discriminate between boilers and heat pumps. We're covered heat pump-wise to exactly the same extent as we'd be if we had a gas or oil boiler.

My former home insurer 'More Than' has stopped selling home insurance, my account has very recently been taken over by 'Admiral'. It seems Admiral specifically exclude heat pumps from their 'heating system and boiler' cover. So I either have to accept the risk of theft or accidental/malicious damage to the external monobloc or need to find an alternative home insurer.

Given where I live, and where the ASHP is located, I think the risk is minimal. I've never claimed on a home insurance policy in my life, and find the ever-increasing costs somewhat galling! The Grant Aerona unit has 5 years of a 7 year manufacturer's warranty remaining.

@richard24738 we’re with policy expert as well. They initially said it wasn’t covered. Then I asked what their definition of building (or part of) was, and they asked if it would damage the building, or something attached to it, if the ashp was removed. After I explained further (predominantly the pipework it was attached to), they conceded that it might fit the definition.

Suffice to say when our policy is due for renewal early dec we won’t be renewing with them and this post gives us some useful avenues of enquiry with more progressive insurers.

@benson @richard24738 was this flagged by directly contacting them? My policy is up for renewal and I was about to renew as I couldn't see any exclusions for ASHP in the policy wording for the buildings cover (emergency cover very much reads as only boilers) 

All the other quotes I can find at the moment seem to be astronomical!

@declan90 yes. I specifically called them to make sure it was covered. Initially a definite no, and then a maybe. Now they’re not offering me insurance anyway following this enquiry (renewal up in a month) so that solves that problem….

@benson certainly removes them as an option! Have sent them a carefully worded query so will see what I get back in writing ...