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EHA
Emergency Home Assist: how it works and what's covered
Learn how RACV Emergency Home Assist works, what emergencies it covers, waiting periods, callouts and when to use this 24/7 emergency service.
A burst pipe at midnight. A power outage on a weekend. A broken hot water system on a freezing winter morning. Home emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time, and finding a qualified tradie at short notice can be stressful.
RACV Emergency Home Assist is designed to provide fast access to qualified emergency tradespeople when unexpected problems arise at your home. Available as an annual subscription or a one-off emergency callout, the service connects homeowners with plumbers, electricians and locksmiths 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Here's how RACV Emergency Home Assist works, what it covers and when it could be useful.
What is RACV Emergency Home Assist (EHA)?
RACV Emergency Home Assist (EHA) is a subscription service that gives eligible homeowners access to emergency plumbing, electrical and locksmith services throughout the year.
When you experience a qualifying home emergency, simply call RACV and they'll arrange for a qualified, accredited and insured tradie to attend your property. There are no additional fees for using RACV EHA out of hours, on weekends, or on public holidays.
RACV aims to have a tradesperson arrive within the hour where possible, although response times may vary depending on your location, weather, traffic and demand.
The service is available across metro Melbourne and many regional Victorian locations.
How does RACV Emergency Home Assist work?
The process is designed to be straightforward:
- Purchase an annual plan or single emergency callout. Annual plans include unlimited emergency callouts*, while one-off callouts are available if you need immediate assistance without an ongoing subscription.
- Call RACV when an emergency happens. If it's safe to do so, take steps to minimise further damage, such as turning off the water or electricity where appropriate. If anyone is in immediate danger, always call 000 first.
- A qualified tradie is dispatched. Once assigned, you'll receive an SMS with an estimated arrival time. RACV aims for attendance within the hour where possible.
- The emergency is repaired or made safe. Many problems can be fixed immediately. If a permanent repair isn't possible, the tradie will make the area safe and explain the next steps. They can also provide a no-obligation quote for any additional work required.
RACV Emergency Home Assist dispatches qualified tradies to help with common home emergencies.
What home emergencies are covered?
Emergency Home Assist is intended for urgent situations that require immediate attention, including:
- burst or leaking pipes
- internal water leaks
- blocked toilets, drains or pipes
- broken taps or showerheads causing urgent issues
- broken or burst hot water systems
- heating or cooling system failures
- power failures within the home
- gas leaks
- home lockouts requiring a locksmith
- broken glass (metro Melbourne only).
The goal is to restore safety and reduce damage as quickly as possible.
What isn't covered?
Emergency Home Assist isn't designed for routine maintenance or planned home improvements.
For example, it doesn't cover jobs such as:
- replacing light globes
- installing new taps or fixtures
- upgrading hot water systems
- general home maintenance
- minor issues that aren't considered emergencies.
If specialist equipment, replacement parts or more extensive repairs are needed, the attending tradie can explain what's required and provide a separate quote.
Emergency Home Assist is intended for urgent situations that require immediate attention.
Is there a waiting period?
Yes. If you purchase an annual Emergency Home Assist subscription, there's a 72-hour waiting period before you can request emergency callouts.
If you need help immediately, RACV also offers a one-off emergency callout option without the waiting period.
Who can use RACV Emergency Home Assist?
Emergency Home Assist is available for eligible residential properties, including houses, units and apartments.
If a property has an active Emergency Home Assist subscription, assistance can be requested by people living at the property, family members, tenants or property managers. However, tenants can't purchase the subscription themselves; they'll need the landlord or managing agent to arrange a plan.
Having 24/7 access to qualified professionals can provide greater peace of mind for homeowners.
Why consider Emergency Home Assist?
Home emergencies can happen without warning and often require immediate attention to prevent further damage or restore essential services. There are no additional fees for using RACV EHA out of hours, on weekends, or on public holidays - so you can call any time you experience a home emergency.
Rather than searching for an available tradie during a stressful situation, Emergency Home Assist provides access to qualified professionals 24/7, helping homeowners respond quickly when urgent plumbing, electrical or locksmith problems occur. Whether it's a burst pipe, unexpected blackout or being locked out of your home, having a plan in place can make dealing with an emergency simpler and less stressful.
*Subject to the Fair Use Policy. Refer to the RACV Emergency Home Assist Terms and Conditions. (PDF, 3.4 MB) for more details.
RACV Trades is a trading name of RACV's trade partner, Club Home Response Pty Ltd (Victorian registered domestic building practitioner number CDB-U 100178). All works are performed or arranged by Club Home Response Pty Ltd. trading as RACV Trades. See RACV Trades terms and conditions.
