Major boiler failure highlights importance of heat cover in the winter - 10/12/2010

The importance of heat cover has once again been highlighted as hundreds of Greater London residents go without heating thanks to a major boiler failure.

With overnight temperatures continuing to hover around the zero-degree mark, it has been reported that 900 homes in the Barnet area of the capital have been without proper heating and hot water for 12 days now.

According to the Barnet and Potters Bar Times, the Colindale residents are suffering following the recent breakdown of a heating system operated by Barnet Homes.

Individual homes as well as a number of public buildings are also without heat, with Barnet College informing the newspaper that it has spent £10,000 on alternative heating over the past few days alone.

Principal Marilyn Hawkins said: "The situation is completely intolerable."

Meanwhile, the chief executive of the firm responsible has reassured local residents that he has a team working "round the clock" to fix the problem.

At the same time, and again highlighting the importance of heat cover, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is celebrating the prosecution of a Middlesex plumber who was found to be illegally installing boilers in the county's homes.

If you want to find out more about heating insurance and staying warm this winter, click here.