Unoccupied Building Insurance

If the owner has passed away and the property at any stage of the probate process, this page isn't for you.

Click here to visit Probate Property Insurance Page.

Unoccupied Building Insurance is essential if your house is empty for more than 30 days. Standard home insurance often won’t cover properties during extended vacancies, leaving you at risk for costly damage from theft, escape of water, or vandalism. That’s why arranging building insurance for unoccupied property is critical when your home is left vacant for any reason—be it sale, renovation, or probate.

This guide explains everything you need to know about Unoccupied Building Insurance, what it covers, why it matters, and how to choose the right policy. You’ll learn about flexible inspection options, cover for non-structural renovations, and how to get an instant quote online.

Whether your property is vacant due to a house sale, a gap between tenants, or during renovations, Insuristic makes it simple to protect your building with confidence.

Want proof? Most of our customers rate us 5 stars, check out our Trustpilot page.

Insuristic specialises in buildings insurance for an empty house that you can trust, offering flexible cover options and quick online quotes.

You can get an instant quote in minutes or scroll down to learn more about our cover levels and policy options.

Unoccupied building insurance is a type of specialist policy designed for situations where a residential property is left empty for 30 days or more and there are no contents inside that need insuring.

This is the right cover if:

• The property is completely unfurnished or being sold as an empty shell

• You only want to insure the building itself (not the contents)

• You’re carrying out work that involves stripping out the interior or preparing for sale

Insuristic’s unoccupied building insurance provides flexible options for buildings-only protection. Whether the property is empty during a sale, renovation, probate, between tenants, or while the owner is in care, and there are no personal belongings present (or none you wish to insure), this page explains the essential cover you need.

If you also need to insure contents (e.g. furniture, electronics, valuables), you’ll need our Unoccupied Home Insurance instead.

Not a residential property?

If you're looking to insure a commercial building that’s unoccupied, please contact us to discuss your requirements. This policy is designed for residential properties only.

Buildings-only insurance is ideal if the property is unfurnished, stripped out, or you’ve removed all items of value and don’t need contents cover. Many people choose this option when:

• The property is being renovated and furniture has been removed

• The house is for sale and completely cleared

• You’ve placed contents into secure storage

• You’re a landlord between tenants and want to insure the structure only

Our policy gives you the flexibility to insure just the building, perfect if your main concern is structural damage from escape of water, theft of fixtures, fire, flood, subsidence or vandalism.

If you still have blinds, fitted carpets, and flooring in the property, don't worry, these are covered in the Buildings section of the policy.

Insuristic offers three levels of buildings-only insurance, so you can choose the right cover for your needs, whether you want basic FLEEA cover or something more comprehensive.

Bronze Cover (also called FLEEA cover)

This is our basic level of cover. It protects the building (and contents, if selected) against:

• Fire

• Lightning

• Explosion

• Earthquake

• Aircraft (including items dropped from them)

It also includes:

• Architects’ and surveyors’ fees

• Debris removal costs

• Property owner’s liability up to £2,000,000

This level is ideal if you want to meet lender requirements or protect against catastrophic events while the building is empty.

Silver Cover 

Silver extends the FLEEA cover to include additional risks that unoccupied buildings commonly face:

• Storm

• Flood

• Weight of snow

• Impact from vehicles or animals

• Falling trees, lamp-posts, or telegraph poles

Plus:

• Accidental breakage of sanitary fittings

• Accidental breakage of underground services

• Trace and access up to £1,000 (to locate water leaks)

• Breakage or collapse of aerials or satellite dishes

• Increased metered water charges up to £750 (after a leak)

This is our most popular option for buildings that are more exposed to weather or pipework risks.

Gold Cover

Gold provides our highest level of protection, extending Bronze and Silver with:

• Subsidence, heave, or landslip (unless excluded on your schedule)

• Escape of water or oil (up to £3,500 per incident) — heating must be kept at a constant 15°C

• Malicious damage

• Theft or attempted theft

Gold is ideal if your building is more valuable or at greater risk, or you simply want peace of mind.

Exclusions and specific conditions apply to all tiers. You can find these in your Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) or policy wording.

Comparing unoccupied building insurance isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. Unlike standard home insurance, this type of cover is classed as non-standard, which means insurers can vary significantly in:

• What perils are covered (some only offer basic FLEEA; others include theft or water damage)

• Inspection requirements (frequency, evidence, who can inspect)

• Conditions for heating, water systems, or security

• Exclusions hidden in the small print

• Whether cancellation refunds are offered

Even policies that seem similar on the surface may have key differences in what’s included, particularly when you’re only insuring the building without contents.

At Insuristic, we aim to make things clear. You can choose from three defined cover levels, each with transparent inspection rules and no hidden admin or cancellation fees.

If you’re not sure which level is right for you, start a quote and see how the cover options compare.

You don’t need to commit to a full year of cover if the building will only be empty in the short term.

With Insuristic, you can arrange unoccupied building insurance for just 3, 6, 9, or 12 months, depending on how long you need.

Whether the building is empty during a sale, renovation, between tenants, or probate, short-term cover offers a flexible, cost-effective solution.

Key benefits:

• Choose from 3, 6, 9, or 12 months of buildings-only cover

• No cancellation fees

• Cancel anytime and get a pro-rata refund if no claim has been made

• Ideal for properties that will soon be occupied or sold

So provided you haven't claimed, you’ll only pay for the cover you actually use,  not a day more.

Need short-term buildings-only cover? You can get a quote in minutes.

Even if a building is only empty for a few weeks, between tenants, during renovations, or awaiting completion of a sale, it still needs protection against risks like fire, escape of water, or vandalism.

Once a property is out of regular use, many standard insurers restrict or withdraw cover altogether. That’s where unoccupied building insurance comes in.

If you only need cover for one month, simply insure for three, and if no claim is made, we’ll refund the unused two months with no fees. You’ll only pay for the time you actually need.

All unoccupied building insurance policies include inspection conditions, and failing to meet them can result in rejected claims.

At Insuristic, we’ve made this as simple and practical as possible:

• Inspections are only required every 14 days (many insurers demand weekly visits)

• Anyone can carry them out — you, a friend, neighbour, or agent

• No formal report is needed

  • Just take two timestamped photos per visit:

    • One of the exterior

    • One from inside the building

These photos provide the proof needed in case of a claim. They can be taken on any mobile device and stored to share with the underwriter if there is a claim.

Tip: Set a calendar reminder to avoid missing an inspection. Regular visits keep your policy valid and your building protected.

If your unoccupied building is undergoing renovations, it’s essential to declare this when arranging insurance — even if you’re not looking to insure the works themselves.

Insuristic allows renovations to take place while the building is covered, as long as the work is non-structural and costs £50,000 or less. This includes common updates such as:

• Kitchen or bathroom replacements

• Rewiring or plumbing

• Replacing doors or windows

These works are accepted under the policy, but the renovation itself is not insured, so accidental damage to tools, loose materials, or items not yet permanently installed won’t be covered.

However, once fittings like kitchens or bathrooms are fully installed and become part of the building, they would then be protected under the buildings section of your policy.

If your project involves structural changes or exceeds £50,000, let us know. We can refer your case to our underwriting team at SJL Insurance Services for bespoke terms, and they will contact you directly.

Want to see what’s included at a glance?

Each of our cover levels (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) comes with a dedicated Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) outlining the key features, limits, and exclusions.

If you chose to include contents during your quote, this will also be reflected in your documentation.

For full terms and conditions, refer to your policy wording and schedule, which confirm any specific exclusions or endorsements that apply to your policy.

Not sure which cover level suits your building? Our comparison section above breaks it down in detail.

If you need to make a claim on your unoccupied building insurance, we’re here to help.

Claims are handled by our trusted underwriting partner, SJL Insurance Services, who offer direct access to a dedicated UK claims team.

Who to Contact:

• During office hours (9am–5pm): Call 01905 27775

• Out of hours: Call 0121 411 0535

They’ll guide you through the process and support you from start to finish.

If your building suffers damage, make sure you:

• Report the claim as soon as possible

• Retain any photos or inspection records (for unoccupied property claims)

• Keep receipts or evidence for any emergency repairs

You can also visit our Property Claims page for further guidance.

Our insurance scheme is underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd’s and administered by SJL Insurance Services.

Lloyds is the world's leading insurance marketplace, with an insurance premium income in excess of £35 billion.

SJL Insurance Services are a leading UK Insurance broker with offices in Worcester, and Bristol (Insuristic.co.uk is a trading style of SJL).

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