Insuring an empty house after death

• You're legally responsible: Executors must arrange specialist cover, standard policies may be invalid or insufficient.
• Standard policies fall short: Many don’t include key cover like flood, theft, or escape of water.
• New conditions apply: Expect requirements like inspections, draining systems, and maintaining the property.
• Avoid underinsurance: Make sure the property is valued correctly to avoid claims issues.
• Occupied homes need advice: If someone is still living in the property, we can help offline (covered on this page).

This page will tell you all you need to know.

We understand that losing a loved one is deeply emotional and often overwhelming. We're truly sorry for your loss.

Insuring a home after someone has passed away adds new responsibilities at an already difficult time. You’re now accountable for something both emotionally significant and financially vulnerable.

Most insurers restrict cover once a property is unoccupied, leaving you unsure what’s still protected.

If the deceased’s home is now empty and there’s no surviving co-owner, it’s vital to arrange the right insurance without delay. As the executor, or Administrator, if there’s no Will, you have a legal duty to protect the estate. That includes ensuring the home is correctly insured.

Standard home insurance often becomes invalid when a property is left empty, which could leave you personally liable for any uninsured losses.

This guide explains what you need to know about insuring an empty house after death—when standard cover fails, what executors are responsible for, and how to avoid gaps in protection.

You can also visit our Executor Home Insurance Page page to page for more guidance on your legal responsibilities.

If the property was jointly owned, typically as tenants in common, and the surviving partner still lives there, the existing home insurance policy will often remain valid.

You should still contact the insurer to inform them of the change. If the policy is in joint names, it may need to be updated, and an administration fee may apply. But in most cases, no major changes will be required.

When someone passes away and their home becomes unoccupied, insuring an empty house after death is not as straightforward as continuing the existing policy. Most standard home insurance policies become invalid once a property is empty for more than 30 days—especially during probate.

This creates a serious risk for executors and administrators, who are legally responsible for protecting the estate. Without appropriate cover, you could be personally liable for any damage or loss, such as from theft, escape of water, or even fire.

Specialist insurance is designed to address these unique risks. It provides:

• Cover for unoccupied properties during probate

• Clear and fair policy conditions

• Protection tailored to the legal responsibilities of executors

By choosing the right insurer, you can avoid hidden exclusions, unfair conditions, and gaps in protection—giving you peace of mind during a difficult time.

Our general guide to insuring an empty house provides broad advice, but if you're dealing with probate, here are the specific actions you should take as the executor:

As the risk has changed, you must notify the current insurer; this is a standard condition in most policies. Failing to do so could invalidate the cover entirely.

If the property is uninsured, or the insurer intends to cancel cover, you must act fast. Executors are personally liable for any uninsured losses. A major claim—like a fire or flood—without valid insurance could have serious financial consequences.

If the insurer continues cover, they may reduce protection or impose new conditions. You must understand and accept any limitations or obligations. Examples include:

• Removal of certain cover types (e.g. flood, theft, escape of water)
• Conditions like draining water systems, maintaining heating, securing the property, or frequent inspections

You’ll need to comply fully and keep evidence in case of a claim.

Staying with the existing insurer may leave gaps or conditions that are hard to meet. A specialist provider, such as Insuristic, offers coverage specifically for probate risks. You can get a quote here and compare the difference in protection.

Probate properties often require ongoing upkeep. Loose tiles, damaged fences, or overgrown gardens can lead to claims or invalidate insurance. Most policies require the property to be kept in a reasonable state of repair.

An overflowing letterbox signals that a home is unoccupied, increasing the risk of vandalism or fire. Redirect post through Royal Mail and, if you’re not local, ask a neighbour to remove any stray mail.

Many executors don’t realise how much policies can differ when it comes to insuring an empty house after death. Some may offer minimal protection, while others, such as Insuristic, are built specifically for the probate process.

Some insurers ask about the executor's personal claims history, criminal record, or credit score. These questions are not relevant to the estate and suggest the provider is offering a standard home insurance policy, not one designed for probate.

Don’t assume you're protected just because the policy covers fire or flood. Many basic policies exclude essential cover like:

• Escape of water
• Theft or vandalism
• Subsidence or malicious damage

If these risks aren’t covered, the executor could be personally liable for repair costs.

Insurers may require:

• Weekly or bi-weekly inspections
• Water systems drained
• Heating kept on in winter
• Utilities switched off

These are often hidden deep in the wording and not explained upfront. Probate House Insurance lays these out clearly before you buy.

You should know exactly how to make a claim before purchasing a policy. If all you get is a phone number in a document, be cautious. At Insuristic, our underwriters provide an in-house claims team and a 24/7 support service.  Visit our Property Claims page for information.

Some providers charge a policy fee and take a large commission—often over 20%. At Insuristic, our maximum commission is 20%, clearly stated in our terms of business, and we never add extra admin charges.

Probate can be unpredictable. Many insurers charge cancellation fees or withhold commissions if you cancel early. We don’t. If you cancel and haven’t made a claim, we’ll refund the unused portion of your premium without charging any fees.

Monthly payment plans often come with interest, and insurance brokers may earn commission on those too. We avoid this entirely by offering short-term cover (3, 6, or 9 months) at no extra cost. You can renew as needed, without financial penalties or hidden fees.

When insuring a home during probate, not all unoccupied property insurance is equal. This is a niche, higher-risk market, and insurers vary widely in what they cover and the conditions they impose.

Some policies exclude key risks like:

• Flood
• Subsidence
• Theft
• Malicious damage
• Escape of water

Others may require:

• Weekly inspections
• Drained water systems
• Heating left on during winter

These differences make it difficult to compare policies on a like-for-like basis, especially when many providers don’t clearly outline these terms upfront.

To avoid hidden pitfalls, read our guide on Why It’s Difficult To Compare Unoccupied Home Insurance, and pair it with our Home Insurance for Executors. Together, they’ll help you make the right choice and protect the estate properly.

Beneficiaries don’t have legal entitlement to the property until they formally inherit it—either through a Grant of Probate (if there’s a Will) or Letters of Administration (if there isn’t).

Until then, the property must be insured in the name of the estate. Here’s how to do it properly:

• If there is a Will: "The Executors of the Estate of [Name of the Deceased]"
• If there is no Will: "The Administrators of the Estate of [Name of the Deceased]"

We’ll remind you of this during the quote process to ensure accuracy.

If another provider doesn’t explain this, it's a red flag, they're likely offering a generic unoccupied home insurance policy, not one built for probate scenarios.

It’s increasingly common for probate properties to be occupied—by relatives, beneficiaries, or others. However, arranging the right insurance in these situations is complex and almost always requires specialist advice.

Occupancy Must Be Approved by the Executor

Anyone living in the property must have the executor’s explicit permission. Without this, insurers may refuse cover due to increased risk of malicious damage or neglect.

Standard and Landlord Policies Usually Won’t Work

If someone is living in the home:

• Standard home insurance won’t apply—they have no legal or financial interest in the property.
• Landlord or property owner insurance usually isn’t suitable either, unless rent is paid and a tenancy agreement exists.

The exception: If the property was already rented out before the owner’s death, existing landlord cover may still be appropriate.

Get Specialist Help

If the property is occupied, visit our insuring occupied probate property page, request a quote  and a member of our specialist underwriting team at SJL Insurance will contact you with tailored advice and cover options.

We hope this guide has helped you understand the steps involved in insuring an empty house after death. By choosing the right probate-specific insurance, you’ll protect the estate and reduce the risk of personal liability.

If you have any questions or need support, please contact us or start an online chat, we’ll always get back to you, usually by email or phone.

If you're ready to arrange probate-specific cover with no hidden fees or unfair conditions, get a quote from Insuristic today.

It only takes a couple of minutes and gives you the peace of mind that everything’s properly protected.

We’ve also created several useful pages to help you:

• Executor Home Insurance - outlines your risks and liabilities as an executor
• Probate House Insurance - details the cover you could get for an empty property and how to get a quote
• Occupied Probate House Insurance - what to do if people are living in the property in probate.
• A guide to insuring an empty house -  covers the risks generally

Ready to Insure the Property and Yourself?

Insuring an empty house after death doesn’t need to be difficult. The right insurance will protect the estate, meet your legal obligations, and give you complete peace of mind.

Get a quick online quote today and arrange specialist cover in just a few minutes.