Terms & Conditions
Your Agreement with Area Home Care Ltd:
General Points
Our cover is for systems (water, heating, electrical and drains) that are already working as they should. Our aim is to maintain your system and keep it running as efficiently and effectively as we can for as long as we can. We are not a ‘free upgrade service’ and we do not have a magic wand. And if you have an already faulty or broken system, we can fix it but we do so for an agreed fixed fee.
We will always try our best and be fair and honest with you. That said, like every company, we are subject to the availability of parts from suppliers, government and industry rules and changes etc which are beyond our direct control.
All our cover packages are for a minimum period of 12 months from the date of the signed agreement. This is for either digital or paper signed contracts. After 12 months you simply need to give us one months notice to cancel your contract.
We run a standard 14-day ‘cooling off’ period should you decide to change your mind and wish to cancel your contract with us. After the 14-day ‘cooling off’ period you may still cancel your contract, to do so you will need to pay the full balance for the time left on your 12-month contract.
Your contract can be transferred to another property owned by the contract holder should you move house within the areas covered by us (Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Batley and surrounding areas). Again, we would do an initial inspection within your first 45 days in your new property. If you are moving outside of the area covered you will need to pay the balance for the time left on your 12-month contract.
When you sign up to the £6.95 per month Service Care plan, you pay£6.95 per month for 12 months, the service will be booked in at a convenient time and you will pay for the year. If you cancel the payment before you have paid for the year you will be due to pay the balance in a lump sum to the value of £83.40 (12 x £6.95 less money already paid).
Initial Inspection
Gas Safety Inspections and Boiler Services will be carried out within 45-days of the start of your contract by a fully qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer.
If we find any ‘pre-existing’ issues, that is, faults or issues that existed before you took the cover and which affect the normal running standard of your system (water, heating, electrical), then you will need to have this fixed before your cover commences. We will advise you how much it will cost to bring it to standard so you can decide whether to go ahead with the work/repair or have the item excluded from your contract cover. We reserve the right to exclude boilers if they are beyond economical repair at the time of sign up.
If you need a system upgrade, for example a system filter replacement or any regulatory alteration, we will offer a fixed price upgrade before any work commences.
Landlords under contract will be issued with a CP12 Certificate following successful safety Inspections.
Guarantees
All work is guaranteed for 28 days. We are members of our relevant trade bodies/competent persons schemes (Gas Safe and Napit).
Contract Renewal
Your contract with us is for 12 months. After that period, your policy will continue on a rolling monthly basis. This means you can cancel anytime by giving us one months notice after your initial 12 months period.
Our aim is to keep our prices fixed. At some point it may be necessary to adjust them to account for inflation and other costs. If we do increase prices, you will be alerted one month before your renewal date. We will not increase the price during your initial 12-month contract term.
Appointments and Access
We will arrange in advance any visit for inspection or repair. It is your responsibility to ensure you as contract holder are present, or someone 18 or over is present on your behalf, to allow us to gain entry and undertake the work. If nobody is present you will need to re-book and without a reasonable excuse be liable to pay a re-arrangement fee of £60.
Where access is required to carry out plumbing, heating or electrical repairs we will not be liable for the re-instatement of boxing in, floor coverings, ceilings, decorations, plaster board walls or any other surface concealing pipework or wiring. We are happy to help arrange any works that need to take place. If your property is Leasehold it will be assumed that you have gained the necessary permissions for any works to be carried out to the property.
Repairs
We aim to attend breakdowns the same day wherever possible. Please do note, during high peak or excessively cold snaps this period may be extended beyond our control. We still aim to repair within 24-hours, subject to the necessary parts being available. Parts that have to be ordered directly from the boiler manufacturer can extend this period up to what should be no more than 7 working days.
Any general maintenance issues, such as bleeding of radiators or re-pressurising the boiler, will be classed as outside of the contract. It is up to the Engineer what fee would be applicable in those circumstances and for you to confirm if this is something you want to progress.
Any additional issues brought to our attention when we visit will be classed as additional work and a price agreed in advance, should we be able to complete the work requested.
Property Limitations and Exclusions
Our cover packages are designed for most common domestic home situations. They do not cover Bedsits or Mobile homes.
Similarly, homes with multiple boilers will need to pick the boiler to be covered and provide the serial number and any associated certification; homes with multiple bathrooms will have to allocate a maximum of 2 to be included in the cover package and we would need to make separate agreement for any other you wish to have covered.
Unless agreed in advance, we do not cover Saniflo systems; underfloor heating systems; burglar alarms; electric gates; electric garage doors. Flues are a separate component to a boiler and are therefore not covered. We also do not cover smart or internet connected thermostats or devices, batteries or electrical "terminal end" points such domestic appliances (such as washing machine)/showers/extractor fans etc. Water leaks that are a direct result of failure of silicon or other sealants are not covered. Likewise, blockages by foreign bodies (e.g. nappies or toys down the loo) are not covered. Replacement or solution is chargeable and in the region of £70 + VAT (first hour then agreed fixed price if requiring more time). We do not cover faults that are cause by you or a third party.
Boiler Replacement Offer
We provide a fixed price boiler replacement offer. When we deem the existing appliance is beyond economical repair or is Immediately Dangerous under Gas Safe Regulations we will enable this offer. Boilers will be replaced on a like for like basis, which means combination boiler for combination boiler in the same location, as long as the existing installation is compliant with Gas Safety Regulations. The boiler will be an appliance manufacturer of our choice, not necessarily the same brand as your existing model. Changing the position of your boiler or any system upgrades are available at extra cost upon request.
The Boiler replacement offer is a wonderful offer exclusive to us and one we cannot allow to be open to abuse or mischief. If our Engineer finds any evidence of deliberate sabotage to an appliance under existing contract, this will render the contract null and void. Furthermore, no repairs or replacement will be carried out other than to make the installation safe under Gas Safe Legislation.
Cancellations
You must provide us with the following:
· Accurate and true information on your boiler/heating/water/electrical system in line with your chosen policy
· Access to your property
· Full payment in line with the 12 months contractual arrangement
· A physically and verbally safe environment in which to fulfil our service cover
If you do not, we reserve the right to cancel your policy immediately and you will be liable for the full payment amount of your contractual term.
If our initial inspection reveals that there are ‘pre-existing’ issues or systems which we are unable to cover, for example boilers we can no longer obtain parts for, then we will cancel the contract and provide a full refund.
Extent of Liability
General examples of inclusions and exclusions are set out for each cover package. In general, across all covers, the following apply:
· Any loss or damage that is due to a lack of proper maintenance as set out in relevant manufacturers instructions
· Any improvements required to your water/heating/electrical systems
· Any loss or damage due to failed equipment, appliances or facilities due to a design fault making it unfit for continued use
· Repairs required for damage caused by other workers, DIY accidents, tenants, such as screws into electrical cables or water/gas pipework
· Any costs of making good and repairs of tiling/plasterwork/boxing/flooring/building fabric when we gain access to your system in order to make a repair or respond to an emergency
· Any costs, including parts or service, that relates to work carried out by your own alternative provider unless agreed previously with us
· Any associated costs in relation to digging on your property
· Any liability when connected with Asbestos and its removal
· Any liability in replacement or repairing Lead or steel pipework
· Accidental or malicious damage caused by you or your tenant
[v1.1/2022]
General Points
Our cover is for systems (water, heating, electrical and drains) that are already working as they should. Our aim is to maintain your system and keep it running as efficiently and effectively as we can for as long as we can. We are not a ‘free upgrade service’ and we do not have a magic wand. And if you have an already faulty or broken system, we can fix it but we do so for an agreed fixed fee.
We will always try our best and be fair and honest with you. That said, like every company, we are subject to the availability of parts from suppliers, government and industry rules and changes etc which are beyond our direct control.
All our cover packages are for a minimum period of 12 months from the date of the signed agreement. This is for either digital or paper signed contracts. After 12 months you simply need to give us one months notice to cancel your contract.
We run a standard 14-day ‘cooling off’ period should you decide to change your mind and wish to cancel your contract with us. After the 14-day ‘cooling off’ period you may still cancel your contract, to do so you will need to pay the full balance for the time left on your 12-month contract.
Your contract can be transferred to another property owned by the contract holder should you move house within the areas covered by us (Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Batley and surrounding areas). Again, we would do an initial inspection within your first 45 days in your new property. If you are moving outside of the area covered you will need to pay the balance for the time left on your 12-month contract.
When you sign up to the £6.95 per month Service Care plan, you pay£6.95 per month for 12 months, the service will be booked in at a convenient time and you will pay for the year. If you cancel the payment before you have paid for the year you will be due to pay the balance in a lump sum to the value of £83.40 (12 x £6.95 less money already paid).
Initial Inspection
Gas Safety Inspections and Boiler Services will be carried out within 45-days of the start of your contract by a fully qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer.
If we find any ‘pre-existing’ issues, that is, faults or issues that existed before you took the cover and which affect the normal running standard of your system (water, heating, electrical), then you will need to have this fixed before your cover commences. We will advise you how much it will cost to bring it to standard so you can decide whether to go ahead with the work/repair or have the item excluded from your contract cover. We reserve the right to exclude boilers if they are beyond economical repair at the time of sign up.
If you need a system upgrade, for example a system filter replacement or any regulatory alteration, we will offer a fixed price upgrade before any work commences.
Landlords under contract will be issued with a CP12 Certificate following successful safety Inspections.
Guarantees
All work is guaranteed for 28 days. We are members of our relevant trade bodies/competent persons schemes (Gas Safe and Napit).
Contract Renewal
Your contract with us is for 12 months. After that period, your policy will continue on a rolling monthly basis. This means you can cancel anytime by giving us one months notice after your initial 12 months period.
Our aim is to keep our prices fixed. At some point it may be necessary to adjust them to account for inflation and other costs. If we do increase prices, you will be alerted one month before your renewal date. We will not increase the price during your initial 12-month contract term.
Appointments and Access
We will arrange in advance any visit for inspection or repair. It is your responsibility to ensure you as contract holder are present, or someone 18 or over is present on your behalf, to allow us to gain entry and undertake the work. If nobody is present you will need to re-book and without a reasonable excuse be liable to pay a re-arrangement fee of £60.
Where access is required to carry out plumbing, heating or electrical repairs we will not be liable for the re-instatement of boxing in, floor coverings, ceilings, decorations, plaster board walls or any other surface concealing pipework or wiring. We are happy to help arrange any works that need to take place. If your property is Leasehold it will be assumed that you have gained the necessary permissions for any works to be carried out to the property.
Repairs
We aim to attend breakdowns the same day wherever possible. Please do note, during high peak or excessively cold snaps this period may be extended beyond our control. We still aim to repair within 24-hours, subject to the necessary parts being available. Parts that have to be ordered directly from the boiler manufacturer can extend this period up to what should be no more than 7 working days.
Any general maintenance issues, such as bleeding of radiators or re-pressurising the boiler, will be classed as outside of the contract. It is up to the Engineer what fee would be applicable in those circumstances and for you to confirm if this is something you want to progress.
Any additional issues brought to our attention when we visit will be classed as additional work and a price agreed in advance, should we be able to complete the work requested.
Property Limitations and Exclusions
Our cover packages are designed for most common domestic home situations. They do not cover Bedsits or Mobile homes.
Similarly, homes with multiple boilers will need to pick the boiler to be covered and provide the serial number and any associated certification; homes with multiple bathrooms will have to allocate a maximum of 2 to be included in the cover package and we would need to make separate agreement for any other you wish to have covered.
Unless agreed in advance, we do not cover Saniflo systems; underfloor heating systems; burglar alarms; electric gates; electric garage doors. Flues are a separate component to a boiler and are therefore not covered. We also do not cover smart or internet connected thermostats or devices, batteries or electrical "terminal end" points such domestic appliances (such as washing machine)/showers/extractor fans etc. Water leaks that are a direct result of failure of silicon or other sealants are not covered. Likewise, blockages by foreign bodies (e.g. nappies or toys down the loo) are not covered. Replacement or solution is chargeable and in the region of £70 + VAT (first hour then agreed fixed price if requiring more time). We do not cover faults that are cause by you or a third party.
Boiler Replacement Offer
We provide a fixed price boiler replacement offer. When we deem the existing appliance is beyond economical repair or is Immediately Dangerous under Gas Safe Regulations we will enable this offer. Boilers will be replaced on a like for like basis, which means combination boiler for combination boiler in the same location, as long as the existing installation is compliant with Gas Safety Regulations. The boiler will be an appliance manufacturer of our choice, not necessarily the same brand as your existing model. Changing the position of your boiler or any system upgrades are available at extra cost upon request.
The Boiler replacement offer is a wonderful offer exclusive to us and one we cannot allow to be open to abuse or mischief. If our Engineer finds any evidence of deliberate sabotage to an appliance under existing contract, this will render the contract null and void. Furthermore, no repairs or replacement will be carried out other than to make the installation safe under Gas Safe Legislation.
Cancellations
You must provide us with the following:
· Accurate and true information on your boiler/heating/water/electrical system in line with your chosen policy
· Access to your property
· Full payment in line with the 12 months contractual arrangement
· A physically and verbally safe environment in which to fulfil our service cover
If you do not, we reserve the right to cancel your policy immediately and you will be liable for the full payment amount of your contractual term.
If our initial inspection reveals that there are ‘pre-existing’ issues or systems which we are unable to cover, for example boilers we can no longer obtain parts for, then we will cancel the contract and provide a full refund.
Extent of Liability
General examples of inclusions and exclusions are set out for each cover package. In general, across all covers, the following apply:
· Any loss or damage that is due to a lack of proper maintenance as set out in relevant manufacturers instructions
· Any improvements required to your water/heating/electrical systems
· Any loss or damage due to failed equipment, appliances or facilities due to a design fault making it unfit for continued use
· Repairs required for damage caused by other workers, DIY accidents, tenants, such as screws into electrical cables or water/gas pipework
· Any costs of making good and repairs of tiling/plasterwork/boxing/flooring/building fabric when we gain access to your system in order to make a repair or respond to an emergency
· Any costs, including parts or service, that relates to work carried out by your own alternative provider unless agreed previously with us
· Any associated costs in relation to digging on your property
· Any liability when connected with Asbestos and its removal
· Any liability in replacement or repairing Lead or steel pipework
· Accidental or malicious damage caused by you or your tenant
[v1.1/2022]