Unoccupied Landlord Insurance

What is unoccupied landlord insurance?

Unoccupied landlord insurance is a specialised type of insurance designed to protect landlords and their rental properties that are empty, typically for more than 30 to 60 days consecutively.

Standard landlord insurance policies can sometimes exclude cover after this period, leaving you needing to find cover from an unoccupied property insurance specialist like Insuristic.

Alternatively, your existing insurer might agreed to continue cover for an increased premium with additional policy conditions for you to comply with.

To find out how long your landlords insurance provides cover for unoccupied property please refer to your policy schedule.

Here's why you might need landlords insurance for unoccupied property:

• Gap between tenants: Finding new tenants might take some time, leaving your property empty.
• Renovations or repairs: Renovation work could leave the property empty for 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.

So sometimes it is worth approaching a specialist for a quote. Insuristic has developed an unoccupied home insurance policy for situations like this:

• You can choose from 3 levels of cover, Gold, Silver or Bronze.  More on that below.
• The policy can be arranged on a short term basis, from 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.

When you get a quote from Insuristic you can:

• Tailor the cover to suit your requirements

• Buy cover for most types of property

We have made it easy when arranging landlord insurance for unoccupied property but if you need help, our team are only an online chat away.

How much does Unoccupied Landlord Insurance Cost?

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

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

However, if you are interested, there are a number of factors that influence the price:

Unoccupied landlord insurance: Risk Management

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

Here are some key risk management tips to help you reduce the likelihood of claims on your landlord 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 condition of your policy.
• Remove valuables: Empty the property of valuables, collections, art, and jewelry 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 having secure locks on all doors and windows, and potentially alarm systems for higher value properties.  Check your policy for details.
• Isolate water supply: Consider draining down the water systems during winter months to prevent burst pipes and water damage.  
• Keep the heating on during the winter months - if you can't drain down your water systems, you will need to keep the property at 15° Celsius.

3. Utility Management:

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

4. Contractor Work:

• Verify contractors 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 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.

By following these risk management tips and having the right unoccupied landlord insurance in place, you can help protect your investment and avoid costly problems down the line.

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

If you need to make a claim, don’t worry.  The team at SJL Insurance Services are only a phone call away.

Between the hours of 9am and 5pm call 01905 27775. Outside of these hours call 0121 411 0535.

We have created a short guide on what is involved in making a claim, which you can find here.