What Mistakes Should I Avoid When Arranging Unoccupied Home Insurance

Many property owners assume their existing policy will cover an empty home or that any low-cost option will do. But the options and variations in the market are a nightmare, making it hard to choose the right policy.  ]

Getting it wrong can lead to underinsurance, rejected claims, and unnecessary stress, especially during probate or renovations.

Read on to find out more.

Before doing anything else, choose the right policy type:

• If you’re the owner, landlord, or acting as attorney or deputy, you’ll need our Unoccupied Home Insurance.
• If the property is empty due to a death and probate is in progress, our Probate House Insurance is designed specifically for estates.

Once that’s sorted, avoid these common mistakes that many people make when arranging home insurance for unoccupied property.

Underinsurance is one of the most common issues in property insurance. Many people use the home's market value, not realising that policies should be based on the rebuild cost. If you claim and are underinsured, the payout could be reduced in proportion.

If you’re unsure, use a rebuild estimate based on the number of bedrooms (if four or fewer) or consider a professional report. We recommend services like Barrett Corp Harrington for accurate assessments.

Some insurers offer basic coverage that only includes Fire, Lightning, Earthquake, Explosion, and Aircraft (FLEEA) risks. While this may seem like a good deal, it leaves out key protections like escape of water, flood, subsidence, theft, and vandalism.

Unless you are confident, avoid FLEEA-only cover for unoccupied property insurance.

From 31st October to 31st March, Insuristic policies require that heating is left on continuously at a minimum of 15°C unless the water system is fully drained. Failing to meet this condition could result in escape-of-water claims being capped or rejected.

Most insurers, including Insuristic, require regular inspections to keep your home insurance for unoccupied property valid.

• For unoccupied home insurance, inspections must take place every 14 days.
• For probate house insurance, the requirement is every 30 days.

Some insurers insist on written reports for each visit, but these don’t prove you were physically present, and may not be accepted if created after a claim arises.

Insuristic makes this easier. You can take two photos on your phone during each inspection,one inside and one outside, and keep them safely stored. These are only needed if you make a claim, but serve as clear, time-stamped proof that inspections were completed on schedule.

If you are leaving belongings in the property, such as furniture, freestanding appliances, or household goods, they are not protected by Buildings insurance.

You must add Contents Cover and ensure the sum insured reflects the full replacement cost as new. However, you must be aware of two critical distinctions:

• Valuables Exclusion: most unoccupied policies exclude high-risk items such as jewellery, gold, silver, watches, furs, or stamp and coin collections. These items should be removed from an empty property as they are not covered.

• Insuristic Benefit: Unlike many standard insurers who classify them as contents, our policy includes carpets, curtains, and blinds under Buildings cover. This simplifies your requirements and ensures these essential fixtures are protected without increasing your contents sum insured - and your price.

If the home is mortgaged, always list the lender as an interested party on your insurance policy.

Failing to do so won’t void the cover, but it can cause serious issues if you need to make a claim.

For example, the lender must be informed about major losses that could impact the property’s value or future use, especially if their investment is at risk. Including them ensures smoother communication and protects both parties.

Many insurers apply hidden administration or cancellation fees that drive up the true cost of cover, especially if your circumstances change.

Benefit for Insuristic Policyholders: We don’t believe these charges are fair. That’s why we never apply admin or cancellation fees and offer pro-rata refunds if you cancel early (as long as no claims have been made). What you see is what you pay for with no hidden surprises.

Some insurers outsource claims handling to call centres or third-party administrators, which can lead to delays and confusion, especially when you need urgent support.

Insuristic policyholders deal directly with our underwriter’s UK-based claims team, not a call centre. You’ll have access to expert support during office hours, plus 365-day out-of-hours assistance and helpful guidance if you ever need to make a claim.  Their claims telephone number is easy to find on the first page of your policy schedule.

To get a quote or find out more about our policy cover, please visit the page that is appropriate to your situation:

• Probate House Insurance (available from the point the property becomes empty until the property is sold, inherited or occupied again.
• Unoccupied Home Insurance: for all other situations, e.g. for property up for sale, between tenants, during renovation, when the owner is in care, etc.

If you have further questions, visit our Unoccupied Home Insurance FAQs or Probate Insurance FAQs pages.