Insuring an Empty Home When the Owner Is in Care

• You’re legally responsible: Attorneys and deputies must arrange appropriate cover, standard home insurance may no longer be valid once the property is unoccupied.

• Standard policies fall short: Many exclude essential protection like theft, escape of water, or accidental damage once a home is left empty.

• New conditions apply: Expect requirements such as regular inspections and maintaining basic utilities, all explained in this guide.

• Avoid underinsurance: Ensure the property is correctly valued to avoid issues if a claim needs to be made.

• Occupied homes need advice: If someone is still living in the home (e.g. a lodger or relative), contact us for tailored guidance.

This page will tell you all you need to know.

We understand that arranging care for a loved one is a difficult and emotional time, and managing their property can feel like yet another layer of responsibility.

If their home is now unoccupied, it’s essential to review the insurance. As their Attorney or Deputy, you have a legal duty to protect their assets, and that includes making sure the property is properly insured.

Standard home insurance often becomes invalid once a property is empty for more than 30 days. Even if cover continues, insurers may restrict it or apply conditions that are difficult to meet. Relying on such a policy could result in rejected claims, and personal liability for losses that could have been covered.

Even unoccupied home insurance policies can be limited in scope, often designed more to protect the insurer’s risk than your legal responsibilities.

This guide explains everything you need to know about insuring a home when the owner is in care, including why specialist cover is essential, how to avoid common insurance pitfalls, and what your responsibilities are.

You may also find it helpful to read this guide alongside our Insuring an Empty House and Unoccupied Home Insurance pages to understand the cover options and policy conditions in more detail.

If the person moving into care owns the home jointly with a partner who still lives there, the property is not considered unoccupied, and unoccupied home insurance won’t apply.

In this case, the existing home insurance may remain valid, but it’s important to inform the insurer of the change in circumstances.

If the property is now solely owned by the person in care, or if the remaining occupant is not a legal owner, specialist advice is recommended. 

Most standard home insurance policies are designed for properties that are lived in day-to-day. Once the owner has moved into long-term care and the home is empty, these policies often:

• Become invalid after 30–60 days; or

  • Strip out key cover like theft, escape of water, and vandalism

  • Impose strict conditions (e.g. weekly inspections, inspection reports or draining the water system)

Even if an insurer agrees to continue cover, failing to meet these new requirements could result in a rejected claim , leaving you personally liable for the loss.

As an Attorney or Deputy, you are legally obliged to act in the best interests of the person in care. That includes ensuring their property is properly protected, with insurance that provides broad cover and practical, realistic policy conditions.

Our general guide to insuring an empty house provides broad guidance, but if you’re acting as an Attorney or Deputy, here are the specific steps you should take:

Confirm whether the current policy is still valid, and whether the insurer has been informed that the property is now unoccupied. If they haven’t been told, the policy could be invalid.

Most policies significantly reduce or remove cover after 30 days of unoccupancy. Speak to the insurer and ask them to confirm in writing what’s still covered, and what isn’t.

If the property is unoccupied, switching to a specialist unoccupied home insurance policy is usually the safer and more reliable option.

The policy must be in the name of the property owner, the person in care. You’ll be listed as acting on their behalf, but the insured name must not be your own.

All unoccupied policies have conditions that you might not be used to, such as frequent property inspections, inspection reports, switching off utilities and water, and more . Choose a policy you can realistically comply with.

Empty homes still need regular upkeep. Damaged fences, loose tiles, or overgrown gardens can increase the risk of claims, and in some cases, invalidate your insurance. Most policies require the property to be kept in good repair.

Overflowing post is a clear signal that a property is unoccupied, increasing the risk of theft, vandalism, or arson. Use Royal Mail’s redirection service and, if possible, ask a neighbour to keep an eye out for stray letters.

Not all unoccupied home insurance is the same, and many policies come with restrictions that are hard to meet. Typical limitations from other providers include:

• Weekly property inspections, often requiring detailed written reports

• Basic FLEEA Insurance only, meaning cover is limited to Fire, Lightning, Explosion, Earthquake or Aircraft

• Mandatory draining of the water system and turning off utilities

• Limited or no cover for Escape of Water or Accidental Damage

• Contents cover often restricted or unavailable

Insuristic’s Unoccupied Home Insurance is purpose-built to be more realistic and protective, offering:

• Flexible cover duration: 3, 6, 9, or 12 months, with annual renewals if needed

• Easy 14-day inspections: just two mobile phone photos (one of the front of property and one of any room inside) to evidence each inspection with no written reports required.

• No drain-down requirements for Gold Policy holders: water system can remain active but escape of water cover is capped at £3,500.

• Three clear levels of cover: Bronze (FLEEA), Silver, and Gold, with increasing your protection for common risks

• Optional Contents Cover: up to £30,000 available.

• No admin or cancellation fees: with pro‑rata refunds if cancelled early (subject to no claims)

• In-house UK-based claims support: expert-led, with no external call centres.

Just because a policy includes fire or storm cover doesn’t mean it offers full protection. Many basic unoccupied policies exclude essential risks such as:

• Flood

• Subsidence

• Escape of Water

• Theft or malicious damage

If these risks aren’t covered and a claim arises, you could be personally liable for the cost of repairs, especially if you're acting as Attorney or Deputy.

Many insurers impose strict conditions like:

• Weekly inspections and reports

• Draining water systems

• Keeping the heating on during winter

• Switching off utilities entirely

These requirements are often hidden in the policy wording and not clearly explained when you buy. With Insuristic, all conditions are explained upfront so you know exactly what’s required.

If the only claims instruction is a generic phone number buried in a document, that’s a red flag. With Insuristic, claims are handled by our UK-based, in-house team. You’ll have clear instructions from day one, plus 24/7 support from the insurer if something goes wrong.

Visit our Property Claims page for information.

Some providers add policy fees or earn high commissions,  often 25% or more, without disclosing it.

Insuristic’s maximum commission is 20%, stated clearly in our Terms of Business, and we never charge admin fees.

Circumstances can change, especially if the home is sold or reoccupied.

Many insurers charge cancellation fees or withhold commission on early cancellations.

We don’t. If you cancel and haven’t claimed, we’ll refund the unused premium in full.

Monthly plans can include hidden interest charges and additional broker commissions.

Insuristic avoids this entirely by offering flexible short-term policies (3, 6, or 9 months) with no interest or extra costs. You renew only when needed, no pressure, no cancellation charges.

When insuring an empty home, not all unoccupied property insurance is created equal. This is a niche, higher-risk area, and insurers vary widely in both the cover they offer and the conditions they apply.

Some policies exclude essential risks like:

• Flood

• Subsidence

• Theft

• Malicious damage

• Escape of water

Others may impose difficult conditions, such as:

• Weekly property inspections

• Drained water systems

• Heating left on throughout winter

These differences make it hard to compare policies like-for-like, especially when many providers don’t clearly outline these requirements upfront.

To avoid hidden pitfalls, read our guide on Why It’s Difficult To Compare Unoccupied Home Insurance, alongside our Unoccupied Home Insurance page. Together, they’ll help you make an informed decision and ensure the property is properly protected.

If you’re acting as an Attorney or Deputy for someone who has moved into long-term care, it’s your responsibility to make sure their unoccupied property is properly insured.

Standard home insurance is rarely suitable once a home is empty, and even many unoccupied policies come with impractical conditions or limited cover.

At Insuristic, we offer a specialist Unoccupied Home Insurance policy designed for real-world use. It includes flexible durations, sensible inspection requirements, and optional cover for key risks like Escape of Water, Theft, and Malicious Damage.

This guide has walked you through the legal responsibilities, risks to avoid, and practical steps for getting the right protection in place, so you can act confidently and protect the person in care, their home, and yourself.

If you’re ready to arrange cover, our quote process takes just a few minutes and gives you full clarity before you buy.