Everything You Need To Know About Unoccupied Property Insurance!

If you leave a property empty for a lengthy period of time, whether you are remodeling, traveling on a long vacation, or waiting for a house sale to close, you may require specialized home insurance.

Here, we’ll explain what unoccupied house insurance is, when you’ll need it, and how to get it.

What Is Unoccupied Home Insurance And How Does It Work?

Standard homeowner’s insurance plans typically do not cover houses that have been vacant for an extended period of time. It will be specified in your policy documentation and is usually 30 or 60 days in length.

In the winter, the duration of time may be varied, or there may be alternative terms in place. For example, if your property is going to be uninhabited for a lengthy period of time – say, a week or more – your insurance may require you to leave the heating on (check the number of days on your policy documents).

If you intend to leave your property for a period of time longer than that stipulated in your terms and conditions, you may need to contact your insurer to adjust or expand your coverage.

If this isn’t feasible or you’re not satisfied with the additional coverage provided, you’ll need to get an unoccupied house insurance policy for the structure and, if necessary, the contents.

Otherwise, your house insurance coverage may be voided, leaving you unprotected in the case of a disaster such as floods, theft, or fire.

Why Do You Want Additional Protection?

Burglary and vandalism are more probable when there are no residents. Therefore empty houses are considered a higher danger. Unexpected issues, such as leaking pipes, will also go unnoticed, leaving the house open to harm.

What Is Covered By Unoccupied Property Insurance?

• While plans vary, a complete unoccupied house insurance policy should cover the following: theft, vandalism, and fire.
• Natural disasters such as floods and storms inflict considerable damage.
• Public responsibility for fire damage – to protect you if anything on your property, such as a roof tile or a tree, damages someone else’s property or causes harm or death to someone else.

What Is The Duration Of Unoccupied Home Insurance?

Unoccupied home insurance policies might be more flexible than normal home insurance policies because your property may not remain empty for the whole year. Therefore, policies for three, six, or nine months may also be available.

What Is The Easiest Way To Discover The Greatest Unoccupied House Insurance Policy?

Whether you currently have house insurance, check with your existing provider to see if it provides temporary supplemental coverage for vacant properties and, if so, what it covers.

If you require specialized coverage, it’s good to shop around and compare plans from several providers to discover the best deal.

Don’t be tempted to get the lowest insurance you can find; it might not be the best option for you. Instead, consider pricing as well as details such as:

• Policy Excess: Amount you’ll need to pay for a claim
• Any Terms And Conditions: Intervals in which someone needs to visit the property
• Levels Of Cover: For both buildings and object insurance. 
• Length Of Time Cover Is Offered For: You may want to look around for more flexible policies.

If the property you’re insuring isn’t your primary residence – for instance, if you’re a landlord or it’s a vacation house – you may need a specialty policy, as conventional home insurance may not cover what you need.