There are a number of reasons why you might need to leave a house unoccupied. Maybe you’re taking an extended trip away. Or maybe you’ve just inherited a property, and you cannot do anything with it during the probate process.
In any case, most home insurance policies will not cover homes if they’re unoccupied for an extended period of time. So, in this post we’ll discuss how long you can leave a house unoccupied and explore some solutions that can help you get the cover you need for as long as you need it.
If you have any questions about keeping your property safe, particularly regarding risk management or home insurance, our friendly team is always happy to help. Get in touch by calling 0208 290 9086 or emailing personal@anthonyjones.com.
How Long Can You Leave a House Unoccupied?
Check your home insurance policy wording. It should make it clear how long you can leave your home unoccupied, and whether there are any provisions for extended periods. If you cannot make out what your policy has to say about leaving your home unoccupied, get in touch with your insurer. Tell them about your plans and ask them how it might affect your cover.
Unoccupied Property and Home Insurance
Most home insurance policies only cover occupied homes – that is, homes in which at least one person is currently living, whether that’s a homeowner or a tenant. Your home insurance policy might be voided if you leave your home unoccupied for a certain period. This period can vary from policy to policy.
Some insurers will specify that you cannot leave your home unoccupied for more than 60 days. Others will be a lot stricter and will void your policy if your home’s unoccupied for more than 30 days.
Some home insurance policies might be a bit more flexible. For example, they might cover your home if it’s unoccupied for an extended period. However, after a set period of time, which again could be as little as 30 days, they might reduce the cover they provide. You may only get cover for fire, lightning, earthquakes, explosions, and aircraft damage.
Finally, some policies may provide cover for unoccupied homes, but they may impose certain conditions. For example, they might require that you visit your home at least once a week while it’s unoccupied. If you do not meet these conditions, then your policy might be voided.
What Are The Risks of Leaving a House Unoccupied?
If something goes wrong in your house while it’s unoccupied, there will be nobody around to address the issue. This means that even small problems can quickly spiral into major disasters: A leak could become a flood, a frozen pipe could burst, an electrical fault could lead to a fire, and so on.
Thieves also tend to target unoccupied homes. Some thieves are opportunistic, but others are a lot more calculating. They will look for signs that a home is unoccupied, and carefully plan their break-in for a time when they know that nobody will be around.
How to Keep Your Unoccupied Home Safe
- Check on your property from time to time. Visit your property at least once a week to ensure that everything’s the way it should be. As we mentioned above, some insurers might require you to do this to keep your policy valid. An occasional overnight stay would be even better, as it could “reset” your allowed unoccupied period and help you keep your cover in place.
- Ask others to keep an eye on your property. If your home will be unoccupied because you’re doing some extended travelling, then obviously you won’t be able to check on things yourself. So, ask someone else to do it for you. You can ask friends or family members to housesit, and you can ask your neighbours to look out for any signs that there might be a problem.
- Turn off your utilities. If you turn off your gas, electric, and water supplies, it could make it less likely that something will go wrong while your house is unoccupied. However, there are downsides to doing this. For example, if you don’t run your heating during the winter, it can make it more likely that your pipes will freeze. Read our full guide to turning off the utilities in an unoccupied home here.
Get Specialist Home Insurance For an Unoccupied or Probate Property
Another option is to get specialist home insurance that will give you comprehensive cover for as long as your property is empty.
For example, you can get dedicated probate insurance to cover a house throughout the probate process. This will cover any gaps in cover that might arise from a standard home insurance policy.
We can also provide risk management advice to help you keep your property safe while it’s unoccupied. For more information, get in touch with us on 0208 8290 9086 or email us at personal@anthonyjones.com.
