How do I insure an empty house That is between tenants?

If you're a landlord looking for specialist cover for an empty rental property, this page explains everything you need to know about unoccupied property insurance for landlords.

We know it's hard to gauge how long the property will be empty for, so you will find our cover very flexible for landlords.

You can insure for as little as 3 months, although our flexible cancellation process means you can insure for less as:

• We don't charge cancellation fees.
• If you don't claim, you will receive a pro-rata refund representing the value of unused cover.

Plus you can choose to insure buildings only or include contents.

If you are renovating between tentants, we can still provide a quote online the property provided:

• The project is less than £50,000, and
• You aren't making structural changes to the property, such as knocking down walls or extending the property.

For larger or structural projects, when you complete our online form, you will get a call from our underwriting team to finalise your quote, as well as to provide advice.

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Get an instant quote today or find out more below.

When do I need Unoccupied Cover?

You should consider this cover when you know a property will be empty for more than 30 consecutive days.

Standard home or let property insurance policies can sometimes exclude cover after this period (some might allow 60 days, so check your policy schedule).  This can leave you needing to find specialist unoccupied home insurance from a  specialist like Insuristic.

Alternatively, your existing insurer might agree to continue covering you upon payment of an increased premium, with additional policy conditions for you to comply with.

Here's when you might need our Unoccupied Home Insurance:

• Gap between tenants: Finding new tenants might take time, leaving your property empty.

• Renovations or repairs: Renovation work could leave the property empty longer than a standard policy covers.

• New property or vacant before renting: It may take time to secure a tenant for a new property.

• Seasonal rentals: Holiday homes or student rentals might be empty for extended periods.

When searching for cover, you will find it varies significantly between providers.  Some may offer you very basic cover.

We can save you a lot of time as our product is designed for situations like yours:

• You can choose from 3 levels of cover: Gold, Silver or Bronze.  More on that below.

• The policy can be arranged for a short term, 3, 6, or 9 months, or you can buy an annual policy.

• Plus, if you need to cancel the policy early, such as because you have a tenant again, we don't charge any cancellation fees.  If you have unused cover, you will also get a pro-rata refund.

What do I need to consider when Insuring an Empty Let?

Here are some key things to consider when looking for cover:

1. Protect Your Property and Income

An unoccupied property is more vulnerable to risks like theft, water damage, fire, and vandalism. Without the right cover in place, you could face costly repairs and delays in preparing the property for new tenants, potentially losing rental income.

2. Your Mortgage Provider May Require It

Most buy-to-let mortgage lenders insist the property is adequately insured at all times. If your current landlord policy becomes invalid due to the property being unoccupied, you could breach your mortgage terms without realising it.

3. Beware of Basic FLEEA Cover

Some insurers only offer basic unoccupied cover, commonly known as FLEEA cover (Fire, Lightning, Earthquake, Explosion, Aircraft). While this is better than nothing, it often excludes the most common and costly claims, such as burst pipes, flood, subsidence, theft, and malicious damage.

4. Broad Cover Helps You Bounce Back Faster

Buying broader cover not only protects you financially, but it also means that if something does go wrong, the property can be reinstated quickly. This allows you to return the property to a rentable condition without unnecessary delays, helping you secure new tenants faster.

5. Peace of Mind for Landlords

You already have enough to manage as a landlord. Consider buying comprehensive cover with dedicated claims support, like what Insuristic offers, so you can relax knowing your property is protected while it’s empty.

What is the cost of the Insurance?

The average Insuristic customer spends £265, including insurance premium tax, and purchased our silver cover for six months.

The cost of unoccupied landlord insurance can vary depending on the provider you approach and a range of property risk factors.

The easiest way to find out is to get a quote from Insuristic.  It will only take a couple of minutes of your time.

However, if you are interested, several factors influence the price:

• The Number of bedrooms: The more bedrooms a property has, the higher the potential repair cost. Insurers often factor this into their pricing.

• The Property Rebuild Value: Some insurance products are priced at the cost of rebuilding the house, including professional and debris removal fees.

• The Location of the Property: If the property is in an area known for flooding or subsidence or has a high crime rate, this will likely increase the cost.

• Property Security: If your house has above-average security measures, such as an alarm, some insurers may offer a discount to reflect the lower risk of theft.

• Property Maintenance: If the property is in good repair, well protected, regularly inspected, and all water pipes are insulated, the likelihood of a claim is reduced. A claims-free property will cost less than the same property with claims.

• The level of cover you buy: Most landlord-occupied property insurance providers allow you to choose a level of cover.  The more cover you buy, the higher the cost.  You can find out Insuristic's cover options below.

What else should I know?

As a landlord, you know the importance of protecting your investment. This is especially true when your property is unoccupied.

Your insurer will also expect you to act as if you aren't insured so that you are proactive with any property maintenance and inspections, and this is reflected in the policy wordings they provide.

Here are some key risk management tips to help you reduce the likelihood of claims on your landlord's unoccupied property insurance policy.

1. Property Maintenance:

• Keep it in good repair: Maintain the property in a reasonable state of repair to prevent damage and potential claims. This includes fixing leaky roofs, replacing broken windows, and ensuring proper drainage.  Your insurer will expect you to do this as a policy condition.

• Remove valuables: Empty the property of valuables, collections, art, and jewellery to avoid theft. These items are prime targets for burglars.

2. Security Measures:

• Minimum security: Adhere to minimum security requirements as outlined in your policy. This often includes secure locks on all doors and windows and potentially alarm systems for higher-value properties. Check your policy for details.

  • It is worth saying that Insuristic only requires locks on all doors and accessible windows.  We don't need to know what the lock is - which protects you in the event of a claim.

• Isolate water supply: Consider draining the water systems during winter to prevent burst pipes and water damage.  

• Keep the heating on during the winter months - if you can't drain down your water systems, between the end of October and the end of March, you should keep the property at 15° Celsius, with the loft hatch open - this is a requirement if you have our Gold policy that includes cover for Burst pipes.

3. Utility Management:

• Switch off services: When the property is unoccupied, turn off gas, electricity, and water at the mains, except for essential services like alarm systems.

4. Contractor Work:

• Verify contractor's public liability insurance: If you have contractors working on the property, ensure they have valid public liability insurance to cover potential property damage or injuries to third parties they may cause.

5. Keeping the property looking occupied:

• Redirect mail: Redirect any post and newspapers to avoid the appearance of an empty property. This can deter potential intruders.

• Maintain a tidy exterior: Keep the garden and lawns tidy to give the impression that the property is occupied.

Following these risk management tips and having the right unoccupied landlord insurance can help protect your investment and avoid costly problems.

Remember: Always check your specific policy wording for detailed conditions and exclusions.