Renovating your home, between tenants, or going on an extended holiday? Your property is your palace, even when it’s empty… but is it protected from unseen risks?
The big problem that many people with standard home insurance policies discover is the limitations on unoccupied properties. It could be leaving your property seriously at risk.
Unoccupied property insurance is a solution that offers legendary peace of mind and protection, all in one. It’s meant for those times when your property has no one living at home, but you still need reliable cover.
Life can take you away from your property. But that doesn’t mean your peace of mind should fly away too!
What is Unoccupied Property Insurance (And How Does It Keep You Safe As Houses)?
Unoccupied property insurance does what it says on the tin. It’s a specialist type of insurance designed to protect properties that are left empty or vacant for an extended period. It provides coverage for risks that are specifically associated with unoccupied homes, things like vandalism, theft, squatting, and damage from escape of water or other unforeseen events.
Usually, you might need this type of cover if your current home insurance policy doesn’t allow for extended periods of vacancy. Many home insurers won’t cover your home if it’s left unoccupied for longer than your policy allows, which is usually somewhere around 30-60 days.
There are unoccupied policies for landlords (or ladies) and for homeowners which cover different things, although some providers cover both. Unoccupied landlord insurance may feature a few more landlord-specific extras, such as protecting you against rental income loss when your rental property is unoccupied for a specific amount of time.
Most importantly, there’s a common misconception that your standard home insurance will cover your property while it’s vacant. But – surprise surprise – this usually isn’t the case. Most policies have restrictions on how long you can leave your property empty. After that period, your cover might not protect you.
But have no fear, unoccupied property insurance can solve this problem!
Think of unoccupied property insurance as a knight in shining armour, looking out for your home. It’s designed to cover those unique risks that can arise with a vacant property – the moments when normal insurance won’t.
Why is Unoccupied Property Insurance Necessary?
‘Gone fishin’ and won’t be home for a while? When a property is left without a paddle, so to speak, the risks of certain events occurring increase significantly.
Here are some of the increased risks associated with unoccupied properties, aka, the reasons that unoccupied property insurance exists to keep your property safe:
Vandalism and theft: Empty homes are more attractive targets, and while locking doors and windows is helpful, if vandals or thieves notice your property is mostly vacant, they are more likely to attempt a break-in.
Squatting: Squatting is a growing concern, as squatters are difficult to get rid of, leading to potential damage and legal issues (as well as giant costs in legal fees and repairs).
Maintenance issues: Undetected leaks, burst pipes or electrical faults can cause significant damage. The tricky part is that you may even think you’re on top of your maintenance, but these risks arise when no one is home to notice small issues that may hint at larger problems.
Weather damage: Storms, floods or fire can have a greater impact on an unoccupied property, generally because there is no one home to prepare or protect the property, such as ensuring windows are closed fully or that fires are put out promptly.
Just imagine returning to a property you’re renovating but not living in yet, only to find thousands of pounds worth of water damage from a leak (it happens). When you call up your insurer thinking you’ll get some help, they tell you there won’t be any compensation since your property was unoccupied for longer than they allow.
These are situations many people still find themselves in – unprotected by their insurers without even realising it.
What Does Unoccupied Property Insurance Actually Cover?
What are you getting from unoccupied home insurance that regular home insurance can’t give you?
Well, unoccupied property insurance typically provides comprehensive coverage for a range of potential issues that can arise when a property is left vacant. This includes protection for both the building itself and its contents…
Typical coverage included in an unoccupied property insurance policy:
- Buildings and contents – covers the structure of your property and specific belongings inside the home.
- Liability coverage – covers you if you’re responsible for causing damage to someone or their property.
- Legal expenses – covers you for legal costs relating to your property, such as court fees for boundary disputes.
Landlords can also get insurance to cover gaps between tenants so they don’t lose rental income on an empty property, but you’d need specialist unoccupied landlord insurance for that.
Tailored Solutions with Orwell Insurance Services
If you know your property is going to be unoccupied (whether the home is unfurnished and empty or there’s just no one home for a while), but you’re not sure what kind of cover you need exactly, Orwell Insurance can help.
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions, because most of the time they don’t fit! And people and their homes are left unprotected. That’s why we take care to listen to your specific circumstance and tailor your unoccupied home insurance to you so you’re safely shielded. That means you can modify how long of a term you want your cover to last, so you’re not locked into a long policy if you know your property will only be vacant for a short while.
The team here at Orwell has years of expertise in providing personalised advice and customised policies to homeowners. So you can be sure you’re getting a dream policy for your circumstances.
Often, we can help out where others can’t, since we have access to a wide range of specialist insurance broker partners. This means we can usually get customised deals you simply won’t find on public insurance search engines.
Have An Unoccupied Home At Risk Of Being Uninsured?
Don’t fancy dealing with the cost of a flooded property after a burst pipe while you were on the cruise of a lifetime? Get reliable unoccupied property insurance to make sure that you don’t pay for time away.
Want to be certain your home is covered for common risks, even when it’s unoccupied? Get in touch with the Orwell Insurance team and we’ll set you up with a comprehensive quote to ensure you get a fairytale ending when you return home.
