Unoccupied Home Insurance

Unoccupied Property Insurance

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Understanding unoccupied home insurance

What insurance do I need for an unoccupied property?

Standard home insurance and commercial property insurance policies are designed for properties that are occupied the majority of the time.

If you do not upgrade your policy or inform your insurer when you leave the property unoccupied for an extended period, you risk invalidating your cover. This applies whether you are a homeowner, a tenant or a small business.

This is where unoccupied property insurance cover comes in. It is a non-standard insurance policy that can protect your property while it’s uninhabited. At Quotezone, we can help you compare unoccupied house insurance policies to find competitive options for your home.

How long does a property have to be empty before insurers class it as unoccupied?

The exact timeframe will vary from provider to provider. But in general, home and property insurers consider a building unoccupied after 30- 60 consecutive days.

This includes cases where the home is under renovation, where the occupant has been hospitalised, or where the house is being used as a second home or holiday accommodation.

For exact limits, you can check your home insurance policy documents. Once you have exceeded these, it’s time to get in touch with your insurer or take out empty property insurance.

How does insuring an empty property work?

If the property already has insurance, you can get in touch with the provider to see if they can amend the coverage to protect an unoccupied home. This will usually come at an additional cost, as unoccupied homes are a higher risk than occupied ones.

You can compare this alongside other unoccupied home insurance quotes to make sure you are not missing out on a better deal. When you compare quotes, the policies will be tailored to your exact needs, including whether you need temporary unoccupied property insurance.

Always be transparent about how long your home will be empty and the reasons that it is vacant. Otherwise, you run the risk of under-insuring or invalidating your coverage.

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When do I need unoccupied home insurance?

You will typically need this for any building left unoccupied for over 30 consecutive days. Common reasons you might need unoccupied building insurance include:

Undergoing renovations that require you to move out.
You are selling the home, new buyers have not moved in yet.
If you are a business owner, you may be closing for an extended period.
You’ve bought a new house that is not ready to move into.
You are temporarily relocating for work or travel.

You are waiting for the probate process to be finalised.
The occupant has passed away.
The occupant has been temporarily hospitalised or re-homed.

If you are a landlord, you may have a short period between tenants.
You use the house as a seasonal or holiday home.

What are the risks associated with empty or unoccupied property?

Unfortunately, empty homes and businesses can run a much higher risk of experiencing damage from water, mould, fire, and rising damp. The extent of the damage caused by these is likely to be more extensive too, as it can go a longer time without intervention. Empty homes, offices, or shops, are more vulnerable to vandalism and squatters. Particularly if they have been vacant for a long time. They also present an easier target for thieves, as the likelihood of a burglar being caught in the act is much lower.

What does unoccupied home insurance cover?

The exact level of coverage will vary depending on the provider you choose and the type of policy you take out. Like standard home insurance, you can choose to protect the building, its contents, or both.

As a general guide, most policies providing home insurance for vacant homes will cover:

Protection against weather-related damage
Water damage from burst pipes or flooding
Fire damage

Theft of the home’s contents
Vandalism and malicious damage
Liability cover, in case of damage to other properties

Damage from fallen trees
Legal expenses cover
Outbuildings attached to the home

Any natural wear and tear to the building will not be covered. So, although you are not occupying the home, it is still important to continue maintaining the building and keep it secure from risks.

How much does empty home insurance cost?

The increased risks associated with unoccupied properties lead to higher insurance premiums than standard home policies. However, the cost of unoccupied house insurance will vary depending on several factors that insurers consider when setting your premiums.

The location of the home

The size and type of building

The age of the property

The level of security your property has in place

Whether you need building cover, contents cover, or both

How long the home will be unoccupied

Why the home is unoccupied

Your previous claims history

How can I find cheap unoccupied home insurance?

There are some simple steps you can take to increase your chances of being offered a cheaper unoccupied home insurance policy. For starters, you could look at increasing your property’s security standards. This could be as simple as:

Installing a burglar alarm

Installing smoke alarms to reduce the risk of fire damage

Installing high-quality locks on the property’s windows to help reduce the risk of break-ins

Consider installing a smart thermostat to help you minimise the risks of frozen or burst pipes during colder stretches

Agree to a higher excess on your insurance policy

Consider having someone house-sit your home

If you’re a business owner, allow a charity to use your shop or office for free

Shop around to get the right level of cover. Just because an unoccupied house or commercial property represents a slightly higher insurance risk doesn’t mean you have to pay an arm and a leg to insure it.

Find your policy by comparing unoccupied property insurance today

What is the difference between unoccupied and vacant property insurance?

An unoccupied property usually refers to a property that is fully fitted and furnished, so having contents insurance in place as part of your coverage will be vital. A vacant property usually means that your property is not fully furnished or fit-out. It’s uncommon to have contents cover for vacant property insurance for this reason.

Is unoccupied house insurance suitable for a holiday home?

Yes, if you own a holiday home in the UK that is unoccupied for most of the year then you’ll need unoccupied property cover rather than standard home insurance. If your holiday home is overseas you’ll need to take out overseas holiday home insurance. But the policy will also need to take into account that the property is unoccupied for significant periods.

Can I get short term unoccupied property insurance?

Yes, when you take out empty home insurance, you can specify exactly how long you property is going to be vacant. If this is only two or three months rather than a full year, you probably don’t want to fork out for an annual policy. When you compare unoccupied home insurance quotes with us,we match you to policies that are tailored to the duration your home or business will be empty.

Unoccupied House Insurance FAQs

Can I insure my unoccupied home with a standard home insurance policy?

Will my normal policy still be valid while I am on holiday?

Do I have to notify my insurer every time I go away?

Does uninhabited house insurance cover the contents of that house?

Will my garage or utility store be covered by this type of policy too?

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