Short Term Unoccupied House Insurance
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Unoccupied Home Insurance UK
Last updated 17th Dec 2022 EamonnTurley
Unoccupied house insurance for 3 months is a speciality type of policy that protects the homeowner’s investment in a residential house or flat that is generally not their main residence and is not occupied by tenants or guests on a permanent or temporary basis.
Most insurance brokers class a building as unoccupied if it has been empty for 30 days and above. A few brokers will call it vacant only if it has been unoccupied for 60 or in some cases 90 days. This same type of cover is also suitable for any unoccupied commercial property.
Multiquotetime works in partnership with Quotezone who provide a simple form which once completed is submitted to a specialist panel of empty house insurance providers. To get multiple quotes and start comparing, select start your quote button above and provide your requirements to a panel of UK brokers. The panel will be in contact via the telephone to provide you with a range of empty home insurance quotes. Cover is available for all property purchases within the UK, including holiday home insurance in Spain and buy to let investments.
Can I take out short term empty property insurance ?
With empty house policies, the norm is that if the status changes from unoccupied to occupied, you can cancel your empty house cover or simply change to the more standard and what should be cheaper occupied house insurance. So you can protect an empty property for a short term, for example 3 months, or extend for a longer term. Typical policy terms that are available are as follows:
More than one property?
If you are a landlord with multiple properties, a portfolio approach or multi property landlord buildings insurance should be considered. If some properties are empty, check with the policy provider as to the terms of cover for any unoccupied periods.
How long can I leave my home unoccupied?
A property can be left empty for a prolonged period for a multitude of reasons, a few of these we have listed below.
Under these conditions which are fairly normal you may not suspect that your standard house cover has a clause that invalidates cover if the property is left vacant for a prolong time period, which in some cases can be as short as 30 days!
Do I need short term unoccupied house insurance?
The term unoccupied is different from the many insurance companies that offer this type of cover. The typical definition is a residential house or flat that will have no overnight guests or tenants for a period of 30 days or more. For some companies, this period of time being unoccupied reaches to 40 days before it is required.
The typical reasons to use this speciality insurance for a property that is unoccupied include the following;
When it comes to ensuring an empty house, brokers understand the policy term can vary, from as little as 30 days to 3 months or over. The good news is that most policies are flexible, with a cancel or amend option available.
Did you know? When it comes to ensuring an empty house, brokers understand the policy term can vary, from as little as 30 days to 3 months or over. The good news is that most policies are flexible, with a cancel or extend option available.
Why doesn’t my homeowner's policy cover my home when I leave it for more than 30 days?
A typical policy is designed to protect the main residence of a person or family from damage and theft. When the home is unoccupied for more than 30 days, the absence of dwellers on a regular basis will be noticed by others, which is considered an increase in risk to the insurance company. Because of the increase in risk, most insurance companies increase the premium to double the cost than of a typical policy for the same property.
What does short term unoccupied house insurance cover?
For the most part, short term empty property insurance for 3 months or longer covers the same items that a standard home policy does, but generally at a higher rate due to the increased risk. If you are insuring an empty house, most policies will include the following:
A property that is empty will attract unwanted attention. Empty house polices should include cover for damage caused by break-ins. If the house has contents be sure to have these included in the policy.
This is protection against a third party making a claim that they were injured or that their belongings were damaged whilst on your property. Property owners liability will provide cover for any court costs and potential compensation resulting from such a claim.
Cover for loss or damage to the structure of your property or permanent fixtures, typical cover in the range of £1 million
The escape of water or heating fuel can cause significant damage. Unless you have drained the water system and heating systems, make sure that your empty house cover will provide protection for damage caused by water and oil escaping.
How can I reduce the risk factors of owning an unoccupied property?
Check it at least once a month
One way to help reduce the risk of owning an unoccupied house is to check on it at least once a month. This can be accomplished by the homeowner or a caretaker. The caretaker can be a neighbour or someone who is hired to help look after the property.
Whoever checks on the property, they should inspect the house. This inspection can include turning on the heater and or air condition to help keep them in working condition. They should also check the water and gas supply lines for leaks along with the items connected to them to make sure they are still in proper working order. It is advisable to have the water and gas lines drained, which is the safest path to preventing damage.
Even when there is no evidence of tampering to window locks and doors, they should all be checked. If one is found unlocked or open, it has to be made secure. What should be noted is that if there is a break-in and there is no evidence of forced entry, any claim for theft or damage will be denied.
Alarms
If you are into smart home gadgets, Alexa has a skill that will switch on lights if it hears sounds during the middle of the night.
Electrical System
Get a qualified election to check the wiring, especially if the house has not been rewired in the past 10 years. If you intend to sell or let out the property, you will need an electrical safety certificate. The certificate will be requested, so best to have it waiting and reading so the sale or let runs smoothly.
Central Heating System
If the property is to be left empt for any significant period of time, it is imperative that you rain your central heating system to avoid expensive repairs. This can be outsourced if you feel it is outside your how do skill set. Alternatively, read our guide on how to power flush a combi boiler central heating system.
Automatic Light timers
A timer connected to a light that comes on in the evening is a good fake way to show the home is occupied when it is not. A vehicle in the driveway is another good deterrent.
Empty property insurance for 3 months or longer is a way to protect your investment when you are not around for an extended period of time. This financial protection is mandatory if you have a mortgage on the property.
Unoccupied home insurance quote
“If you need unoccupied home insurance 90 days or for shorter terms, complete one simple form provided by Quotezone you will receive multiple quotes from a panel of UK specialist insurance providers.”
Empty House Insurance FAQ's
That question can only be answered by your house insurance provider. All house insurance polices will have a clause sating how long the house can be left continuously unoccupied. Some can be as short as 30 days, others offer longer periods, but few will exceed 45 days.
A typical empty house insurance policy will cover the building for losses as a result of fire, lightning, explosion, earthquake, smoke, aircraft collision and legal liability.
Like any insurance, the cost is determined by a number of factors. Some key factors include the postcode, the level of cover required, the value of the home.
A simple answer would be a property that no one lives in, but that can be misleading. Take the case of work being carried out on your property, which makes it inhabitable. You may visit it daily, would you consider it unoccupied? You may be surprised to find that many insurance companies would class the property as empty or unoccupied. The same is true if you wear to treat yourself to an extended holiday (over 30 days). Always check the policy for their definition of the word "unoccupied".
Policy duration can range from 30 days to 12 months. Extensions are also permissible.
Making the property extra secure should help lower the cost, in addition only insure for the period required, most brokers will offer cover for a term 1, 3, 6, 9 or 12 months.
Yes, insurance is available for all house types, including unoccupied properties with a thatch roof. Expect to pay more for unoccupied insurance for a thatched roof, to cover that additional risk this type of property poses.
Yes, council taxi is payable on empty properties and if left unoccupied over 2 years, expect the Council Tax to double!
