When do you need unoccupied home insurance?
Standard home insurance policies are only valid when a home is regularly occupied. If a property is left vacant for more than a certain period of time - typically 30, 45, or 60 days, depending on the insurer - its home insurance policy will be invalidated, and any claims made for damage or loss to structures and items in the property during that time will be rejected.
Insurers are reluctant to extend coverage to homes that are vacant long-term because empty properties are more likely to be targeted by thieves and other criminals. And if no one is present in a property to spot problems like fires and leaks, damage is more likely to be extensive - and expensive for your insurance provider.
But the reality is that there are many vacant homes in the UK: more than 303,000 homes in England are long-term empty - up 14% on the previous year and the highest level since 2011. Homes are often uninhabited because they're undergoing renovation or are still on the market for sale after the owners have moved to another property. Rented properties can sit empty between tenants. Sometimes people leave the country or local area for work or go travelling for extended periods of time. Other people have second or holiday homes they only occupy seasonally.
If your second home is going to be empty for more than a month or two, unoccupied cover is one of the most common reasons people end up needing it - see our second home insurance guide for more.
If your home is going to be empty for more than a month or two, you’ll need to get a specialised unoccupied home insurance policy for it. These policies will protect an empty home from damage to its structure and contents caused by natural disasters, fires, leaks, crime, and other misfortunes.
What does unoccupied home insurance cover?
Typically, unoccupied home insurance policies cover damage to or loss of structures and contents caused by:
fire and smoke
floods
storms, lightning strikes, and other natural disasters
explosions
leaking pipes or heating systems
burglary or attempted burglary
vandalism
squatters
subsidence or heave
fallen trees, aerials, lampposts, or satellite dishes
vehicle or aircraft collisions
frost damage to internal pipes
But each policy will be different. When you compare home insurance policies, you should read the terms and conditions before purchasing to see what it specifically covers and excludes. It’s advisable to read it again before filing a claim.
Unoccupied home insurance policies can also cover legal expenses, including related to the removal of squatters, or public liability - when the uninhabited property is responsible for injury to someone or damage to someone else’s property or possessions.
What won’t be covered by unoccupied home insurance?
All insurance policies have exclusions: events which they will not cover. For unoccupied home insurance, this typically includes:
Unforced Entry: if the windows and the doors of the property aren’t secured with industry approved locks, claims for damage and theft will be denied
Renovation: if the property is undergoing extensive renovation, such as having an extension added, insurers may refuse to cover for incidents that happen during these major works
Contractors: damage caused by contractors will not be covered by the policy. Contractors should have their own insurance, which will cover damage they inadvertently cause to properties on which they are working.
What conditions need to be met for the insurance to be valid?
Insurers will ask you for information about the vacant property, including its security and condition, as part of the underwriting process and may deny you coverage. Additionally, they can reject claims if certain conditions outlined in the paperwork aren’t met.
For example, if the building is in poor condition, with boarded up doors and broken windows, you may struggle to obtain any coverage for it. Properties typically need to be secured with industry-approved locks. Insurers may require you have activated burglar alarms and timer-controlled heating, to ensure pipes don’t freeze and then burst during the winter. You may also need to perform (or have someone else perform) regular checks on the property.
In some cases, insurers may also require utilities such as water, gas and electricity to be switched off, with the water system fully drained.
How much does unoccupied home insurance cost?
Unoccupied home insurance usually costs more than a standard policy, because an empty property is a bigger risk to insure. [Insert current typical cost range or cost multiplier versus standard home insurance, sourced from Money Expert's own data.] A few factors affect the price:
The property's value - more expensive properties cost more to repair or rebuild
The level of cover you choose - building only, or building and contents
How long the property will be empty for
The property's location, including crime rates and flood risk
Your claims history
How can I reduce the cost of unoccupied home insurance?
Pay annually rather than monthly, where you can - monthly instalments are usually charged with interest
Consider a higher voluntary excess, as long as you could comfortably afford it if you needed to claim
Make sure you're not over- or under-insuring - check your rebuild cost and the value of any contents left in the property
Improve security, such as adding an alarm or upgrading locks, which can also help meet policy conditions
Compare quotes from more than one provider rather than accepting the first one you're offered
Unoccupied home insurance guides and related products
If you're arranging cover for an empty property, these related guides and products may also help:
Why use Money Expert?
Money Expert has been helping UK customers compare and save on their insurance since 2003. We're authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 917459), and our service is completely free to use - we receive commission from the providers we refer customers to, which doesn't affect the price you pay.
Unoccupied home insurance FAQs
How long can a house be left empty before I need unoccupied cover?
Most standard home insurance policies allow a property to be empty for 30 days, though some insurers extend this to 45 or 60 days. Check your own policy documents, since the exact limit varies by provider.
I'm a landlord and my rental property is empty between tenants - do I need unoccupied cover?
It depends on how long the gap is. If your property will be empty for longer than your landlord insurance policy allows - commonly 30 to 60 days - you'll need to arrange unoccupied cover to stay protected in the meantime.
What's the difference between a vacant property and an unoccupied property?
An unoccupied property still has furniture and belongings in it, just no one living there day to day. A vacant property is both unoccupied and empty of contents. Insurers sometimes treat the two differently, so check which definition your policy uses.
Can I insure an unoccupied property that's up for sale?
Yes. If you've already moved out and the property will be empty for longer than your standard policy allows while it's on the market, unoccupied home insurance can cover it until it sells.