Home Insurance for Unoccupied Property: What Most People Get Wrong

Many property owners assume their existing policy will cover an empty home or that any low-cost option will do. But home insurance for unoccupied property is a specialist type of cover that protects against the unique risks of leaving a home empty.

Choosing the wrong policy or failing to meet its conditions can lead to underinsurance, rejected claims, and unnecessary stress, especially during probate or renovations.

Start with the Right Policy

Before doing anything else, choose the right policy type:

• If you’re the owner, landlord, or acting as attorney or deputy, you’ll need our Unoccupied Home Insurance.
• If the property is empty due to a death and probate is in progress, our Probate House Insurance is designed specifically for estates.

Once that’s sorted, avoid these common mistakes that many people make when arranging home insurance for unoccupied property.

1. Insuring for the Market Value Instead of the Rebuild Cost

Underinsurance is one of the most frequent problems when insuring an unoccupied home. Many people use the market value of the home, not realising that policies should be based on the rebuild cost. If you claim and are underinsured, the payout could be reduced in proportion.

If you’re unsure, use a rebuild estimate based on the number of bedrooms (if four or fewer) or consider a professional report. We recommend services like Barrett Corp Harrington for accurate assessments.

2. Choosing Cheap FLEEA Cover Without Understanding the Risks

Some insurers offer basic coverage that only includes Fire, Lightning, Earthquake, Explosion, and Aircraft (FLEEA) risks. While this may seem like a good deal, it leaves out key protections like escape of water, flood, subsidence, theft, and vandalism.

Unless you are confident, avoid FLEEA-only cover for unoccupied property insurance.

3. Failing to Maintain the Heating or Drain the Water System

From 31st October to 31st March, Insuristic policies require that heating is left on continuously at a minimum of 15°C unless the water system is fully drained. Failing to meet this condition could result in escape-of-water claims being capped or rejected.

4. Skipping Required Inspections

Many insurers, including Insuristic, require regular inspections to keep your home insurance for unoccupied property valid.

• For unoccupied home insurance, inspections must take place every 14 days.
• For probate house insurance, the requirement is every 30 days.

Some insurers insist on written reports for each visit, but these don’t prove you were physically present, and may not be accepted if created after a claim arises.

Insuristic makes this easier. You can take two photos on your phone during each inspection,one inside and one outside, and keep them safely stored. These are only needed if you make a claim, but serve as clear, time-stamped proof that inspections were completed on schedule.

5. Forgetting to Add Contents Cover

If you’re leaving belongings in the property, such as furniture, white goods, or valuables, remember that these aren’t covered by buildings insurance by default. You’ll need to add contents cover and ensure the sum insured reflects the full replacement cost.
One benefit of Insuristic’s policy is that carpets, flooring, and blinds are included in the building’s cover, something many insurers only include under contents. It’s a more practical approach that simplifies your cover and can reduce your premium.

6. Forgetting to Add the Mortgage Lender

If the home has a mortgage, always list the lender as an interested party on your insurance policy. Failing to do so won’t void the cover, but it can cause serious issues if you need to make a claim. For example, the lender must be informed about major losses that could impact the property’s value or future use, especially if their investment is at risk. Including them ensures smoother communication and protects both parties.

7. Overlooking Cancellation and Admin Fees

Many insurers apply hidden administration or cancellation fees that drive up the true cost of cover, especially if your circumstances change. At Insuristic, we don’t believe these charges are fair. That’s why we never apply admin or cancellation fees and offer pro-rata refunds if you cancel early (as long as no claims have been made). What you see is what you pay with no hidden surprises.

8. Not Checking the Claims Process

Some insurers outsource claims handling to call centres or third-party administrators, which can lead to delays and confusion, especially when you need urgent support. With Insuristic, you’ll deal directly with our underwriter’s UK-based claims team, not a call centre. You’ll have access to expert support during office hours, plus 365-day out-of-hours assistance and helpful guidance if you ever need to make a claim.

9. Not Using the Right Policy If the Property Is in Probate

If the property is unoccupied due to bereavement and probate is underway, make sure you choose probate house insurance, not a standard unoccupied home policy. The insurance must be in the name of the estate (e.g. “Executors of John Smith”), and the cover should go beyond FLEEA-only protection. Our specialist Executor Home Insurance offers broader cover, simpler conditions, and protects executors from personal liability for uninsured losses.

Need home insurance for unoccupied property?

Get a fast, no-fuss quote online with Insuristic. Choose flexible cover, avoid hidden fees, and protect your empty home with confidence. Click below to start your quote for home insurance for unoccupied property now.

[Get an Unoccupied Home Insurance Quote]

Further reading

We have produced a range of pages to support buyers of unoccupied property insurance, here are a few links that are helpful to many of our website visitors:

• A Guide to Insuring an Empty House
• How to Insure an Empty House after the Death of the Owner

If you have further questions, visit our Unoccupied Home Insurance FAQs page.