If you're a landlord looking for specialist cover for an empty rental property, this page explains everything you need to know about unoccupied property insurance for landlords.
We offer flexible short-term (3, 6, 9, or 12 months) or annual policies designed specifically for situations where your rental property is unoccupied—whether it's between tenants, undergoing renovations, or awaiting new occupants. Our cover is quick to arrange online, with no policy fees, no cancellation fees, and options to insure buildings only or include contents.
You'll also benefit from dedicated support through our UK-based in-house claims team.
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Get an instant quote today or explore our unoccupied landlord insurance cover levels below.
On this page, you will find helpful information about landlord insurance for unoccupied properties
If you have questions not covered on this page, start a chat or contact us. You can click on any of the items in 'Contents' to jump to the section that interests you.
Unoccupied landlord insurance is a specialised type of insurance designed to protect landlords and their empty rental properties. Standard policies often won't cover a property that has been empty for more than 30 consecutive days.
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 agree to continue covering you upon payment of an increased premium, with additional policy conditions for you to comply with.
Please refer to your policy schedule to find out how long your landlord's insurance covers unoccupied property.
Here's why you might need a landlord insurance for unoccupied property:
Gap between tenants: Finding new tenants might take time, leaving your property empty.
Renovations or repairs: Renovation work could leave the property empty 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 for a short term, 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.
If your rental property is sitting empty, even for a short period, standard landlord insurance may no longer provide cover. That’s why unoccupied landlord insurance is essential, it protects your investment during the gaps.
An unoccupied property is more vulnerable to risks like theft, water damage, fire, and vandalism. Without the right cover in place, you could face costly repairs and delays in getting the property ready for new tenants, potentially losing rental income in the process.
Most buy-to-let mortgage lenders insist the property is adequately insured at all times. If your current landlord policy becomes invalid due to the property being unoccupied, you could breach your mortgage terms without realising it.
Some insurers only offer basic unoccupied cover, commonly known as FLEEA cover (Fire, Lightning, Earthquake, Explosion, Aircraft). While this is better than nothing, it often excludes the most common and costly claims, such as escape of water, theft, and malicious damage.
Buying broader cover not only protects you financially, but it means that if something does go wrong, the property can be reinstated quickly. This allows you to return the property to a rentable condition without unnecessary delays, helping you secure new tenants faster.
You already have enough to manage as a landlord. With Insuristic’s unoccupied landlord insurance, you get comprehensive cover and dedicated claims support, so you can relax knowing your property is protected while it’s empty.
If you're not renting the home and simply need cover for an empty property, check out our Unoccupied Buildings Insurance page. It’s ideal for owners managing probate, renovations, or properties waiting to be sold—offering the same flexible cover with clear terms.
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.
The average Insuristic customer spends £265, including insurance premium tax, and purchased our silver cover for six months.
The cost of unoccupied landlord insurance can vary depending on the provider you approach and a range of property risk factors.
The easiest way to find out is to get a quote from Insuristic. It will only take a couple of minutes of your time.
However, if you are interested, several factors influence the price:
The Number of bedrooms: The more bedrooms a property has, the higher the potential repair cost. Insurers often factor this into their pricing.
The Property Rebuild Value: Some insurance products are priced at the cost of rebuilding the house, including professional and debris removal fees.
The Location of the Property: If the property is in an area known for flooding or subsidence or has a high crime rate, this will likely increase the cost.
Property Security: If your house has above-average security measures, such as an alarm, some insurers may offer a discount to reflect the lower risk of theft.
Property Maintenance: If the property is in good repair, well protected, regularly inspected, and all water pipes are insulated, the likelihood of a claim is reduced. A claims-free property will cost less than the same property with claims.
The level of cover you buy: Most landlord-occupied property insurance providers allow you to choose a level of cover. The more cover you buy, the higher the cost. You can find out Insuristic's cover options below.
You can arrange unoccupied landlord insurance as buildings-only cover or choose to include contents if needed.
We provide landlord buildings insurance for unoccupied properties with flexible options. Whether your rental is empty due to a sale, renovations, a gap between tenants, or while the owner is in care, you can choose a buildings-only policy. You’ll still get essential protection, including up to £2 million in property owner’s liability and cover for non-structural renovations under £50,000.
The level of protection depends on the cover you select. You can compare our 3 levels of unoccupied landlord insurance cover below:
Level 1 is our basic level of cover. It only covers loss or damage to the buildings (or contents if you have chosen to insure that) caused by:
Fire
Lightening
Explosion
Earthquake; or
Aircraft
This cover is often referred to as FLEEA cover.
In addition, level 1 also includes:
Architects & surveyors fees and debris removal
Property owners liability insurance, covering your legal liabilities up to £2,000,000 should a member of the public be injured or have their property damaged at your premises.
There will be exclusions which can be found in your Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) or policy wording.
Level 2 is our mid-range level of cover. It extends to the FLEEA cover provided by level 1 to also include loss or damage to buildings (or contents if you have chosen to insure that) caused by:
Storm
Flood
Weight of snow
Impact of vehicles or animals
Falling trees, lamp-posts or telegraph poles
In addition it also provides cover for:
Accidental breakage of sanitary fittings
Accidental breakage to underground services which extend from your home to the public mains which you are legally liable for
The cost of finding the source of any leaks up to £1000 following an escape of water
Breakage or collapse of fixed radio or television aerials, satellite dishes & their masts
Increased domestic metered water charges up to £750 following an escape of water.
There will be exclusions which can be found in your Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) or policy wording.
Level 3 is our highest level of cover. It extends the cover provided in levels 1 and 2, to also include loss or damage to buildings (or contents if you have chosen to insure that) caused by:
Subsidence, heave or landslip (unless you live in an area prone to this type of damage. If this is the case and the cover is excluded, this will be shown clearly on your policy schedule).
Escape of Water or Oil to a maximum of £3,500 for any individual incident
Malicious Damage
Theft or Attempted Theft.
There will be exclusions which can be found in your Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) or policy wording.
If you want to see at a glance what is or isn't covered, please view the IPID (Insurance Product Information Document). The policy wording contains the full terms and conditions of the insurance policy. There may be other exclusions and these will be listed on your schedule.
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's unoccupied property insurance policy.
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 policy condition.
Remove valuables: Empty the property of valuables, collections, art, and jewellery to avoid theft. These items are prime targets for burglars.
Minimum security: Adhere to minimum security requirements as outlined in your policy. This often includes 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 the water systems during winter 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 must keep the property at 15° Celsius.
Switch off services: When the property is unoccupied, turn off gas, electricity, and water at the mains, except for essential services like alarm systems.
Verify contractor's 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.
Redirect mail: Redirect any 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.
Following these risk management tips and having the right unoccupied landlord insurance can help protect your investment and avoid costly problems.
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.
Check out our guide on 'How to make a claim' for further information.
Below are some common FAQs. If we have missed anything please start an online chat.
Yes, with Insuristic you can buy unoccupied landlord insurance for short-term periods of 3, 6, or 9 months, ideal if your property is temporarily empty between tenants or undergoing renovations.
This gives you the flexibility to only pay for the cover you need.
If you cancel early and haven’t made a claim, you’ll receive a pro-rata refund for any unused cover. There are no cancellation fees, and buying a policy online only takes a couple of minutes.
Unoccupied landlords insurance is part of a higher-risk market, which means cover and conditions vary widely between providers. Some policies may exclude theft, malicious damage or escape of water, while others add strict requirements like weekly inspections or draining water systems. This inconsistency makes it difficult to compare quotes fairly. Read our guide on why it’s difficult to compare unoccupied home insurance to avoid gaps in protection.
Yes, Insuristic offers unoccupied landlord insurance policies that can be arranged for as little as 3 months, perfect if you need cover for 90 days. This short-term option is ideal during tenant gaps, renovations, or while preparing a new property. You can cancel early without fees and receive a pro-rata refund for any unused cover, provided no claims have been made.
Not usually. Standard home insurance is designed for owner-occupied properties, not rental homes, especially if they are empty.
If your rental property is unoccupied for more than 30 days, most standard or even landlord policies may limit or exclude cover altogether.
That’s why you need unoccupied landlord insurance. It ensures you remain protected during tenant gaps, renovations, or while preparing a property to be let. Always check your current policy terms to avoid gaps in cover.
It depends on the policy. Most landlord insurance policies only cover a property while it's occupied or allow short periods of unoccupancy, typically up to 30 consecutive days.
After that, cover may be restricted or removed entirely. If your rental property is going to be empty for longer, you’ll likely need specialist unoccupied landlord insurance to stay protected. Insuristic offers short-term and annual policies tailored for exactly this situation.
The cheapest unoccupied landlord insurance typically provides FLEEA cover, protection for Fire, Lightning, Earthquake, Explosion, and Aircraft damage. While this basic level of cover is cost-effective, it excludes common risks like theft, water damage, and vandalism.
It’s worth noting that broader cover often provides better value in the long run by covering more potential issues.
In fact, you might find that Insuristic’s wider cover options are more competitively priced than many providers offering basic FLEEA-only insurance.
The best unoccupied landlord insurance provides broad, flexible protection—far beyond basic FLEEA cover.
At Insuristic, our Gold level policy is designed to meet the needs of landlords with empty properties by offering extensive protection and key benefits.
Gold cover includes:
Theft, malicious damage, and vandalism
Escape of water and storm damage
Subsidence
Property owner’s liability up to £2,000,000
Buildings-only or buildings and contents cover
Protection during non-structural renovations (up to £50,000 in costs)
Please note: Renovation cover means your property remains insured even while undergoing improvements, provided they are non-structural (like kitchen or bathroom upgrades). This is essential if you're preparing the home for new tenants or updating the property between lets.
With Gold cover, you have broad protection, helping you get your property back on the market faster if the worst happens.
Most standard landlord insurance policies limit cover if a property is unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days.
After this, risks like theft, water damage, or vandalism may no longer be insured.
If your rental property will be empty beyond this period, whether between tenants, under renovation, or awaiting occupancy, it’s time to consider unoccupied landlord insurance.
With Insuristic, you’re required to inspect the property every 14 days while it remains unoccupied. This helps prevent small issues from becoming large claims and ensures your policy conditions are met. Unlike many insurers, we do not require written reports, just time and date-stamped photos from a mobile phone showing the inside and front of the property evidencing each visit. These are only needed if you make a claim.
We provide landlord buildings insurance for unoccupied properties, with flexible options to include contents cover if required. Whether your rental is between tenants, undergoing renovations, or waiting to be sold, you can opt for buildings-only cover. This still includes up to £2 million in property owner’s liability and the option to cover non-structural renovations up to £50,000, ideal for landlords who want tailored protection without paying for contents they don’t need.
Rob Faulkner is an ACII Chartered Insurance Broker with nearly 30 years' experience in the UK insurance market. He is also a Chartered Manager and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
As the founder of Insuristic, Rob has developed clear, flexible insurance solutions for property owners and people managing empty homes.
You’ll also find Rob writing regularly about probate insurance and risk management, another key area of his expertise.
He’s especially passionate about product development and improving insurance education through marketing to help people understand what they are buying, values that shape everything we do at Insuristic.
Want to learn more? Visit my author page or follow me on LinkedIn.
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Please Note: Our broking team at SJL Insurance will need to talk to you to discuss your requirements. This is an advised service.
Please Note: Our broking team at SJL Insurance will need to talk to you to discuss your requirements. This is an advised service.
Please Note: Our broking team at SJL Insurance will need to talk to you to discuss your requirements. This is an advised service.
Please Note: Our broking team at SJL Insurance will need to talk to you to discuss your requirements. This is an advised service.
Please Note: Our broking team at SJL Insurance will need to talk to you to discuss your requirements. This is an advised service.
Please Note: Our broking team at SJL Insurance will need to talk to you to discuss your requirements. This is an advised service.
