Unoccupied Property Insurance

That is the normal position rather than a defect, and there are three ways out of it. Many insurers will extend the existing policy for a known period if you ask in advance, which is the simplest route for a refurbishment or a sale that has stalled. Some will not, in which case a dedicated unoccupied policy runs alongside or replaces it. And a few products are written with a longer allowance built in, so home insurance with 90 days unoccupied cover does exist, though it is less common than people expect and usually carries its own conditions. What does not work is doing nothing. Home insurance unoccupied more than 60 days, on a policy that caps at 60, leaves you with fire and structural perils only, and an undeclared vacancy can affect claims that have nothing to do with the property being empty.

It is usually somewhat more than the equivalent occupied policy and the reason is exposure rather than value: with nobody there, an escape of water runs for weeks before anyone notices, and theft, vandalism and storm damage all go undiscovered. What moves the figure is the rebuild cost, how long the property will be empty, why it is empty, whether the water is drained or the heating held on, how often it is inspected and by whom, and how secure it is. Meeting the conditions properly is the most effective single lever you have on the price, and it is worth asking for the premium both ways, drained and heated, because which is cheaper varies between insurers.

Not on an ordinary household policy for long. Standard home insurance typically restricts cover once a property has been unoccupied for a stated run of consecutive days, commonly 30, 45 or 60, after which what remains is usually fire and structural perils only. Escape of water, theft and malicious damage fall away, which are precisely the claims an empty house is most exposed to. Unoccupied home insurance replaces that restriction with conditions you can actually meet: the water drained or the heating held at a low constant temperature, the property inspected periodically and a record kept, post cleared, and the property secured. Tell your existing insurer first, because many will extend cover for a known period rather than make you move, and an undeclared vacancy can affect claims that have nothing to do with the property being empty.

Usually 30 to 60 consecutive days, and the exact figure is on your schedule rather than being an industry standard, so it is worth looking it up rather than assuming. Two things are commonly misunderstood. The clock counts consecutive days of nobody living there, not nights nobody slept there, so a weekly visit to collect post does not reset it on most wordings. And the restriction applies from the day the period is exceeded, not from the day you notice, so a claim six months into an undeclared vacancy is assessed against the stripped-back cover. If you know a property will be empty, for probate, a refurbishment, a sale that has stalled or a move abroad, arrange it in advance rather than afterwards.

Most policies set a threshold of 30 or 45 consecutive days, though some use 60. It is worth checking yours, because the clock runs on calendar days rather than on whether anyone has been keeping an eye on the place. Once past it, a standard household or landlord policy typically reduces to fire, lightning, explosion and aircraft only: theft, escape of water, malicious damage and accidental damage all fall away, which are precisely the risks an empty property attracts.

Because your normal policy was written on the basis someone lives there. Rather than leave you on the restricted cover a standard policy drops to, an unoccupied policy is written for the situation: it restores cover for theft, escape of water and malicious damage, subject to conditions about inspections and the water supply. It usually runs for a set period (three, six or twelve months) and can be extended if the situation drags on.

Regular documented inspections, usually every 7, 14 or 30 days depending on the insurer. The water supply turned off and the system drained down over winter, unless heating is left on at a low constant temperature. Post cleared so it does not build up visibly. Alarms maintained and set. Reasonable security on doors and windows. These are conditions rather than suggestions, and the inspection record is what evidences compliance, so write the visits down.

It is one of the most common reasons for needing it. A property left empty after a death frequently stays that way for months while probate is granted and the estate is settled, and the deceased's own policy may lapse or restrict. Executors have a duty to protect the estate's assets, and an uninsured or under-insured property is a real exposure. Insurers understand probate situations well and are used to arranging cover in the estate's name.

Yes, but it needs declaring and it changes the terms. Insurers want to know the scale of the works, whether the structure is being altered or the roof opened up, whether contractors carry their own liability cover, and whether hot work is involved. Above a certain value of works you may need contract works cover alongside the property policy. 'A bit of decorating' and a full strip-back are very different risks.

Less than most people fear. Typical home insurance runs around £174 a year occupied against roughly £218 unoccupied, so the uplift is real but modest rather than the doubling people expect, and unoccupied cover is advertised from about £170 a year. Those are typical figures for a straightforward property rather than a quote for yours. What moves your price is the rebuild cost, how long the property will be empty and why, the security and inspection arrangements, and whether any works are planned. Call 02382 000820 and we will price your own.