Do I need special home insurance for unoccupied properties?

If a property is going to be left unoccupied for more than 30 days, you will usually need a specialist policy. Most standard home insurance policies limit or withdraw cover entirely after this period. Home insurance for unoccupied properties is designed to provide appropriate protection during times when a property is empty and more vulnerable to damage or crime.

Why is unoccupied property a higher insurance risk?

Insurers consider unoccupied properties to be higher risk because:

• Damage (such as burst pipes or leaks) can go unnoticed for days or weeks
• Empty homes are more vulnerable to theft and vandalism
• The risk of fire, storm or other events can lead to greater loss if undetected

As a result, insurers either reduce the level of cover or require a specialist policy with specific terms.

What does Insuristic’s insurance for unoccupied properties typically cover?

At Insuristic, we offer flexible cover options that can include buildings, contents, or both, depending on your needs and the level of protection required.

Bronze cover (FLEEA):

• Fire, Lightning, Earthquake, Explosion, and Aircraft damage
• Available for buildings, contents, or both

Silver and Gold cover may include:

• Theft and malicious damage
• Escape of water (e.g. burst pipes)
• Flood and subsidence
• Impact damage

Cover levels vary, so it’s important to choose the right tier for the risks your unoccupied property may face.

What policy conditions should I expect?

Specialist unoccupied home insurance usually comes with conditions to reduce risk, such as:

• Regular property inspections (e.g. every 7 days)
• Draining water systems or keeping heating on in winter
• Turning off unused utilities like gas and electricity
• Keeping the property secure and presentable (e.g. removing mail, tidying gardens)

At Insuristic, our inspection process is straightforward. You just need two photos on each visit (one of the front of the property and one of a room inside) to meet your policy obligations, sharable if you need to make a claim.

Insuristic’s inspection frequency is also more generous than standard:

For Probate Properties: Once every 30 days.

For all other unoccupied residential properties: Once every 14 days.

What are the risks of staying on standard home insurance?

If your home becomes unoccupied and you don’t switch to a suitable policy:

• You could completely invalidate your policy and have no cover due to failing to meet occupancy terms.
• If your insurer continues cover, you may not be covered for common claims like theft or water damage
• If you’re acting under probate or power of attorney, you may be liable for uninsured losses due to exclusions or inadequate cover that could have been properly arranged elsewhere.

How to get home insurance for an unoccupied property

Insuristic makes it easy to arrange cover online in under two minutes. We offer:

• Short-term policies (3, 6, 9, or 12 months)
• Clear policy wording with no hidden fees for cancellations or changes.
• Pro-rata refunds if the policy is cancelled early and no claim is made
• Support from an in-house claims team should you need to claim

Summary

If your property is unoccupied for more than 30 days, standard home insurance is unlikely to provide the protection you need. Home insurance for unoccupied properties offers the right level of cover and essential peace of mind.

Further reading on home insurance for unoccupied properties or how to get a quote.

Click on any of the links below to learn more or get a quote:

• A Guide to Insuring an Empty House
• How to Insure an Empty House after the Death of the Owner
• Our Unoccupied Home Insurance Page, which explains the level of cover available
• If the property is empty at any stage of Probate, our Probate House Insurance page explains our unique approach to this and the level of cover available.

Click to return to our Unoccupied Home Insurance FAQ page.