Can I insure just the buildings?

Yes. If your property is empty, you are not required to insure the contents if you don't need to. Most specialist unoccupied policies allow you to select Buildings Only cover. This is a common choice for houses being prepared for sale, undergoing renovations, or sitting empty between tenancies.

If you want to learn about Insuristic's cover, you should visit our Unoccupied Home Insurance page.  If you have questions, visit our Unoccupied Home Insurance FAQs page.

Please Note:

• 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.

• If the owner has passed away and the property is at any stage of the probate process, this page isn't for you. Click here to visit Probate Property Insurance Page.

Here are several scenarios where insuring the contents of an empty home are unnecessary:

• The Property is completely empty: If a tenant has moved out, or you have moved out, and the property is unsold, and there is no content left to protect inside.

• When preparing for renovation: If you are about to start home improvements, and wanted a clear house.  Which is often the case when people are replastering and rewiring.

• When the contents aren't worth insuring: Sometimes furniture is left in the property that has no significant financial value; therefore, paying an insurance premium to protect it doesn't make sense, particularly if the contents individually are of similar value to the excess that would need to be paid (typically £250).

• Mortgage Compliance: Most mortgage lenders only require you to have Buildings Insurance in place to protect their interest in the loan; they rarely insist on contents cover for an unoccupied property.

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.

Insuristic allows renovations to take place while the building is covered, provided 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 such as kitchens or bathrooms are fully installed and become part of the building, they will be covered under the building section of your policy.

If your project involves structural changes or exceeds £50,000, let us know when getting a quote, and our underwriting team at SJL Insurance Services will call you to provide advice as well as a quote. 

Whether you need cover for a month or a year, our platform is built for flexibility:

• Exclusive Cover: Designed for empty properties, you won't be able to buy our policy anywhere else.
• Short-Term & Long-Term: You can buy cover for 3, 6, 9, or 12 months.
• No Cancellation Fees: If the property becomes occupied or is sold quicker than you expected, we won't charge you to cancel early.
  • Pro-Rata Refunds: If you haven't made a claim when you cancel the policy, you will receive a pro-rata refund equal to the value of any unused cover