Question 1

How long can a house be left empty before the insurance is affected?

Accepted Answer

Most standard home, buildings and landlord policies restrict cover once a property has been continuously unoccupied for a set period — typically 30, 45 or 60 days, though the trigger varies by insurer. After that point, perils such as escape of water, theft and malicious damage are commonly suspended while a narrower core of cover remains. Check your own policy wording, as the definition of occupancy and the length of the period both differ between insurers.

Question 2

Does my existing home, landlord or buildings policy cover an empty property?

Accepted Answer

Usually only for a limited period. The policy typically remains in force, but the schedule of insured perils narrows once the unoccupancy period is exceeded, and many policies also require you to notify the insurer as soon as you know the property will be empty. Because the building is still technically insured, owners often assume nothing has changed. Send us your wording and we will read it with you and tell you what is actually still covered.

Question 3

Is unoccupied home insurance different from unoccupied house insurance?

Accepted Answer

No — unoccupied house insurance, unoccupied home insurance, empty property insurance and vacant property insurance all describe the same type of specialist policy. The wording differs between insurers rather than between the names. What genuinely changes the policy is the building itself: a house, flat or maisonette is underwritten differently from a vacant shop, office or industrial unit, and we approach a different set of insurers accordingly.

Question 4

What is considered an unoccupied property for insurance purposes?

Accepted Answer

A property is typically treated as unoccupied when nobody is living or working in it on a regular basis. Most policies define this as a set number of continuous days — commonly 30, 45 or 60 — without occupancy. Properties between tenancies, under renovation, going through probate, awaiting sale, or vacated after a fire or flood are all common examples. A brief visit to collect post does not necessarily reset the clock, and the precise definition varies by insurer, so it is worth checking your specific terms.

Question 5

Do I have to tell my insurer that the property is empty?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it matters. Most policies carry an express duty to notify the insurer when a property becomes, or is about to become, unoccupied. Beyond the policy wording, a commercial policyholder has a duty of fair presentation under the Insurance Act 2015, and a consumer must take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012. Unoccupancy is exactly the kind of fact an insurer would want to know about, so failing to disclose it can affect how a later claim is dealt with — including a reduced settlement or, in some circumstances, a declined claim.

Question 6

What conditions do insurers apply to an unoccupied house or building?

Accepted Answer

Conditions vary by insurer, but commonly include documented inspections at set intervals (often every 7 to 14 days), draining down the water system or maintaining a minimum background temperature over winter, clearing and securing post and the letterbox, securing external doors on five-lever mortice deadlocks or equivalent, securing or boarding windows, removing valuables and portable items, isolating services where practicable, and declaring any building works in advance. These are policy conditions rather than recommendations, and a claim can be declined if they are not met.

Question 7

Who arranges insurance on a house going through probate?

Accepted Answer

Cover is typically arranged in the name of the executors or personal representatives of the estate. Probate can take many months, so the property is often unoccupied well beyond the point at which the deceased’s own policy restricts cover. A specialist unoccupied policy can be arranged for the probate period and then adjusted when the property is sold, let, or transferred to a beneficiary.

Question 8

Does an unoccupied house need to be emptied of furniture?

Accepted Answer

Not usually. Furniture can generally remain, but insurers typically expect valuables, money, jewellery and readily portable items to be removed, and contents cover on an unoccupied property is often limited or excluded. If significant contents need insuring, tell us at the outset so we can approach insurers who will consider it.

Question 9

Can I insure a property that is being renovated while it is empty?

Accepted Answer

Yes, subject to underwriting. The scope, value and duration of the works, and whether the structure is being altered, all need to be declared before work begins, as these materially change the risk. Cover can typically include the building during the works, liability arising from contractors and visitors to the site, and theft of materials. Undeclared works are a common reason for a claim to be disputed.

Question 10

Can you arrange cover for empty commercial premises?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Vacant shops, offices, industrial units, warehouses and mixed-use buildings are written by a different set of insurers from empty homes, and they carry their own exposures — unauthorised occupation, sprinkler and alarm maintenance, business rates considerations, and tenant plant or fixtures removed at lease end. We approach that market as well as the residential one, so a single conversation covers both.

Question 11

How long can a property stay unoccupied under a specialist policy?

Accepted Answer

Specialist unoccupied policies are typically written for 3, 6 or 12 months with the option to extend. There is no fixed upper limit, but insurers will want to understand why the property is empty and when it is expected to be reoccupied, sold or let. Longer vacancies, and properties that are older, unmodernised or standing empty through a winter, may attract additional conditions.

Unoccupied Property Insurance for Empty Homes and Buildings