Unoccupied Property Insurance

Do I have to take a 12 month policy?

No. We can provide short term unoccupied insurance policies for 3, 6 or 9 months cover if you wish, although you will not be entitled to a refund if you cancel one of these policies early. In addition the comparable month to month price is usually more than a vacant property insurance policy running over a 12 month period. Some insurers will allow you to pay for a 12 month policy on a monthly direct debit scheme, with little or no penalty for cancelling early, so we would recommend this option to you wherever possible.

What if I decide to move into the property or rent it out part way through the policy term?

As well as providing empty house insurance, some companies also offer other products such as household cover or residential let. It is simple to swap between empty house insurance and another policy with the same company.

What is the definition of Unoccupied?

In the UK there is no specific legal definition for unoccupied. Each insurer has their own definition of what an unoccupied property is and this will always be set out in their policy wording. Most household insurance policies consider a residential building to be unoccupied if it is not occupied overnight for a period of time that is often as little as 28 days during a whole year. When a property is deemed to be unoccupied by the insurance company, cover will be limited to a basic level such as FLEEA cover, and the company will also advise you that cover will cease after a short period, often as little as 28 days.

A commercial building may be deemed to be unoccupied if it is not used for a period of as little as 7 days, but is usually 21-28 days. Check your policy wording if you are unsure, or click here for more in depth information and context from the Financial Ombudsman Service.

What is FLEEA cover?

FLEEA cover is Fire, Lightning, Earthquake, Explosion and Aircraft, or sometimes just FLEA cover or FLEE cover.

Is there any limit on how long my property can be unoccupied?

On an unoccupied property insurance policy, no. Empty property insurance will cover your property for a full 12 months if necessary, with the option to renew if the policy is still required. Other policies may provide unoccupied cover, but for a short period only, e.g. a let property policy will offer cover for a property between lettings, but will specify a maximum number of days unoccupied cover.

What is Property Owners' Liability insurance?

Property Owners' Liability insurance is similar to public liability insurance. It provides cover in the event of injury, death or damage to individuals or their property on or adjacent to your property e.g. a tile falls off a roof and hits someone, or lands on their car and damages it. For private property owners this protection is usually included in a household policy, whereas for most businesses, any claim arising from your ownership of a property would be included in your public liability cover.

Can I cover the contents at my unoccupied property?

Yes, you can cover general contents (such as furniture, TV's etc.). Please Note, cover for valuables such as jewellery, gold, silver, works of art & paintings, or personal effects will generally be excluded.

What if my property is up for sale?

If your property is up for sale, we have access to several insurers who will insure you on a short term or monthly basis with small or no cancellation charges.

Do I have to visit the property regularly?

All unoccupied property insurance policies require you, or your repesentative to inspect your property on a regular basis. For some policies this might be at least once every seven days, although more usually it is once a fortnight. The purpose of this is to spot any potential or developing faults and have them fixed, before an incident which could result in a claim occurs. Also, if there is an incident, steps can be taken to limit any damage before it becomes more widespread, which could add to the cost of a claim. For example, if a water pipe starts to leak, this would be discovered sometime in the following few days during the regular inspection and dealt with. If the property was not regularly inspected, the leak could continue for several months causing a huge amount of additional damage that could have been easily avoided. So regardless of whether it is required by your unoccupied property insurance or not, it is still a very good idea to have the property regularly checked.

Do I have to turn the mains services off?

In most cases no, although some policies do specify that if the water system is not drained then the heating must be kept on permanently at a specified minimum temperature (usually 13 degrees centigrade), to prevent frost damage to pipework.

Can you cover my property if I am doing works on it?

Yes. Insurance companies vary between what works they are prepared to provide cover for, what cover they will offer, and on what terms. Our staff have the required expertise to identify which company will best meet your needs, so whether you are just doing a bit of decorating or completely refurbishing a property, we can find the right policy for you. For more information about property works and insurance related issues click here.

I work away from home for several months of the year and leave my property unoccupied. Can you provide unoccupied household cover?

Yes. Some insurers offer household and unoccupied property insurance policies. These companies will usually let you switch between policies depending on whether you are at home or away. However, please be aware that contents cover may be limited whilst you are away - always check your policy wording.

Will my empty property be covered for theft and/or malicious damage?

We have policies available for unoccupied property which include insurance cover for theft and malicious damage. Please contact us to discuss your specific requirements.