14th April 2023
Empty Property/Unoccupied Property Insurance
 | Unoccupied Property Insurance |
There are many reasons why your home/property may be empty or unoccupied such as:
- You’ve just inherited the property.
- You are selling the property and have already moved out into your new home.
- The property is being renovated and you’re not living there while the builders carry out the work.
- You have to go away on business for an extended period of time.
- You are taking a long holiday.
- It’s a holiday home.
Am I still insured if my property is left empty?
It will depend on the length of time the property will be left empty or as insurers call it unoccupied. Most home insurance policies will cover a set period of time while the property is unoccupied, but you would need to check your policy document to confirm this, it often states that you must inform your insurance provider if your home/property is going to be unoccupied for 30 consecutive days or more.
Do I need to inform my insurer if the property is going to be left empty/unoccupied?
Yes, you should notify your insurer if you are going to be away from your home for an extended period of time. If you’re just going on holiday, you don’t normally need to contact your insured, unless your holiday is going to be longer than 30 days. If you’re in any doubt, you should contact them.
Why do I need to tell my insurance provider that my home will be empty /unoccupied?
Often insurance providers will tend to consider an unoccupied home to be of a higher risk of a claim being made than a home with people living in it.
The reason for this is that they feel there is an increase chance of water damage, vandalism or a break-in as there’s is no one at home to spot issues quickly or prevent them.
Each insurance provider will tend to have a slightly different view on unoccupied properties, and the cover they will offer. It is always best to speak to yours directly first to find out what level of cover they can offer; there are also specialist unoccupied property insurance policies on the market that you can take out on a short–term basis, for example, Cover4Insurance can offer cover for 3, 6 or 12 months – click here to find out more.
What information will the insurer ask me for when I tell them that my property will be empty/unoccupied for a period of time?
Your insurance provider will want to know the reason the property is going to be left unoccupied and for how long you expect the property to be unoccupied for.
For example, it may be that you expect it to be unoccupied for 3 months why the sale of the property goes through.
Home insurance and your unoccupied/empty home.
Whether you’re going on an extended business trip or simply waiting for a new tenant to move into your property.
Don’t waste time worrying about your insurance cover; we have a specialist
unoccupied property home insurancefor you, we also have a product that covers unoccupied homes while they are undergoing works such as renovations, extensions or just a simple redecoration.
What happens if I fail to tell my insurer that my property is empty/unoccupied for a period of time?
Well, you will run the risk of invalidating your home insurance policy if you fail to tell your insurance provider that your home is going to be unoccupied for a longer period of time than is set out in your policy documents. This basically means if you need to make a claim, your insurance provider may refuse to pay it.
What will empty house/unoccupied property insurance cover me for?
They will normally cover you for the standard perils of general household cover. Such as protecting you against damage caused to the property from Fire, Lighting, Explosion, Earthquake or by Aircraft commonly referred to as FLEA cover.
Some products may also offer cover for property owner’s liability, subsidence, ground heave or landslip cover. Specialist unoccupied property covers may also offer cover for theft, malicious damage and escape of water.
Please note that insurance policies are not all the same. It is therefore important to ask your insurance provider directly to find out what exactly is or isn’t covered by the policy. You might find there are certain restrictions placed on your insurance cover only while the property is unoccupied but the rest of the time, normal cover remains in place.
How much will empty property/unoccupied property cover cost?
Like standard home insurance this will vary from insurer to insurer and will be based on each individual case and the amount that you’ll pay will depend on the area in which the property is located and the circumstances surrounding the reasons why the property will be left empty.
How can I compare unoccupied/empty home insurance?
If you already have a policy, you should phone your existing home insurance provider to get a quote for how much extra you would need to pay if and when your home is unoccupied.
Then get a quote from Cover4Insurance by clicking here to make sure that the quote provided is competitive. This will help ensure that you’re able to get the right cover at the best great price.
