Home insurance
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Unoccupied property insurance
We don’t compare unoccupied home insurance - here are some companies[1] offering quotes[2]
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Towergate is one of the UK's largest insurance brokers, specialising in cover you really need. Choose a three, six, nine or 12 month policy so you're only paying for the length of cover you really need. Visit the website and buy online today.
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Nova Insurance, established in 1995, is a nationwide company providing a range of unoccupied property insurance cover from leading UK insurers. It specialises in helping businesses and individuals find the right level of cover for their unoccupied property.
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Adrian Flux are a non-standard specialist broker, established in 1974. Priding itself on finding solutions for difficult to insure properties, Adrian Flux understands the values and all too often stress associated with insuring unoccupied properties. Visit the website to find out how they can help.
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Homeprotect (underwritten by AXA) provides home insurance for homes that are left empty for more than 30 days. There's no cover for escape of water (1 October 2023 to 1 April 2023 inclusive), theft, money, cards or valuables if your home is empty for 30 days or more. Its policies cater for a wide range of situations including empty for sale, homes under probate, properties normally let or properties undergoing renovation. Cover typically includes up to £1 million for building repair or rebuild and £25k legal cover for a range of circumstances.
What is unoccupied home insurance?
Unoccupied home insurance covers your home if it’s left empty for longer than your standard policy allows. Standard home insurance policies typically cover an empty house for 30 or 60 days, but the time frame can be longer, or shorter – so check your policy wording to be certain.
Unlike standard home policies, specialist unoccupied home insurance will cover a vacant property for between three, six, nine or 12 months, with the option to extend if required.
If you need longer than 12 months, you can find quotes for a new policy towards the end of your original term.
When do you need unoccupied home insurance?
An empty property policy provides cover for the building and/or contents in properties that are left vacant for 30 days or more.
Your property will be empty when you’re:
- Awaiting probate
- Awaiting sale or occupation
- Undergoing refurbishment or renovation
- The occupier is absent because it’s a second home, they’ve gone travelling, have been hospitalised, or taken into care
Tell your home insurer when your house will be empty and how long for.
Your policy may cover your vacant house, but if not, you can make alternative arrangements so you’re not running the risk of invalidating your cover.
“Don’t run the risk of leaving it uninsured,” said GoCompare’s home insurance expert, Ceri McMillan.
“Always double check with your home insurance provider whether you'll be covered past this time period and to what level and, if you're not satisfied, consider unoccupied property insurance.”
If your home insurance will cover you, check that it’s comprehensive insurance and read the exclusions.
Some policies might ask that you have someone come and check on the home at regular intervals, at least every 14 days.
If you make a claim and the insurance policy is unsuitable for your circumstances, you might not be covered at all.
What will unoccupied house insurance cover?
The level of cover that you receive will depend on the policy that you take out, but you should think about protection against:
Unoccupied home insurance exclusions
Every policy has exclusions - so read your terms and conditions - but common examples are:
- Loss or damage when windows or doors are left open or unlocked
- Damage caused by extensions and structural repairs
- Damage caused by contractors (but contractors should have their own insurance)
Save money when you buy unoccupied property insurance
Preparing your property to be left empty could help to keep it safe and save you money on insurance.
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Do some maintenance
Keep the property in a good state of repair to reduce the likelihood of a claim, but if something does go wrong, the property is in a good state of repair and the insurer will honour your policy
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Pay attention to pipes and heating
Use a controlled heating system to stop the pipes bursting in cold weather, or make sure utilities are switched off and the water system is drained
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Make your home secure
Put away valuable items in a secure place, in a safe, or remove them from the empty property. Fit and use approved locks on the windows and doors, and get a burglar alarm