Why Is It So Difficult To Compare Unoccupied Home Insurance

Cover for empty properties is harder to compare than standard cover because it’s considered ‘non‑standard’ due to the higher risk of claims, such as burst pipes, vandalism, or theft.

As a result, fewer insurers offer it, and those that do apply inconsistent cover levels, stricter conditions, and varied exclusions

This lack of consistency makes it difficult to compare these policies like-for-like, especially when many online providers don’t clearly explain what is included or what conditions apply when comparing this type of cover.

This guide from Insuristic outlines what to watch out for when comparing unoccupied home insurance, it’s essential to check the policy terms carefully, including the hidden conditions, cover gaps, and pitfalls most people miss.

You might think it is easy to compare this type of cover, but unfortunately, often it isn’t.

The insurance market considers empty property insurance as ‘non-standard home insurance’ because of the higher risk of claims that empty property poses.

Not every insurer wants to cover this; where they do, there isn’t a consistent policy and cover structure.

Empty homes pose a higher risk of claims from burst pipes, vandalism, fire, theft, etc.

So, to manage their profitability, insurers try to limit their losses by applying more restrictive cover and policy conditions than what you would find on your standard home insurance policy. 

So buyers are faced with varying cover levels and policy conditions they aren't used to, such as property inspections, switching off utilities, or draining water systems.

Many providers don’t flag these differences upfront. You must read and understand the terms in every quote to understand what you must do to comply with the policy conditions.

Plus, the market is smaller than that of standard home insurance, which means there is less choice, and the right cover is often hard to find.

This post will walk you through the challenges of comparing and finding the right policy if you’re insuring a property in probate or temporarily empty. Understanding the differences in exclusions and conditions is crucial.

Alternatively, you could get a quote from Insuristic in a couple of minutes online. 

We have explained everything you need to know upfront, with cover that won’t catch you out, prices that won’t break the bank and an in-house claims service to help you should the worst happen.

Most people are used to visiting comparison sites to check prices for their car, home, and travel insurance.

However, because of the reasons I have already explained, it is almost impossible to compare cover due to variations between providers.  Many people don’t realise that comparison sites aren’t insurance brokers. 

Comparison Sites are effectively affiliate businesses that capture your information and share it with their panel of insurance brokers and insurers so you can obtain a quote directly.

Whilst their convenience can make getting standard insurance policies easier, they are an extra mouth to feed in the chain.

This is why you will never find Insuristic on a comparison site.

If you look at the leading comparison sites, my view is backed up by their lack of ability to compare cover:

• Go Compare does not offer an online quote process for unoccupied home insurance; instead, it refers you to several insurance partners, some of which may not offer a specialist policy. 
• Money Supermarket states it compares unoccupied home insurance, but it has partnered with a single provider, InsureMy, which offers a standard home insurance quote journey.
• Confused: They don’t compare unoccupied insurance policies; they suggest their standard home insurance might be willing to provide some cover whilst the property is unoccupied.  However, this may not be the right coverage, as the providers may not be specialist non-standard home insurers.
• Uswitch – standard home insurance only, and no mention of unoccupied home insurance on their site.

None of this is easy.

Therefore, it may be worth approaching specialists like Insuristic first. We have done the thinking for you with a quality product designed specifically for insuring empty property.

Before you start your search, it’s essential to understand how to compare this cover based on your actual needs, not just the price.

When you compare unoccupied home insurance, look beyond the premium. Consider both the level of cover and the policy conditions, as these can vary significantly between insurers and affect your ability to claim.

For inspiration, take a look at the cover Insuristic provides. Our Unoccupied Home Insurance and Probate House Insurance pages detail Bronze, Silver and Gold cover levels, so you can clearly see what’s included, like protection for escape of water, theft, or subsidence and any conditions you need to meet.

Use this as a benchmark. Standardise your enquiries by asking other providers to match these specific cover levels. This will help simplify your comparison and ensure you’re reviewing policies on a like-for-like basis.

Once you receive quotes, review them against your requirements and identify any coverage gaps or restrictive conditions that could cause issues later.

Think about flexibility you might need in terms of cover duration.

It’s hard to know exactly how long you’ll need cover, particularly during probate or while selling a house. Be sure to check if the provider charges fees for early cancellation or policy setup, as these costs can add up and reduce the overall value of the policy.

The most common cover provided by standard and non-standard home insurance providers is referred to as FLEEA Insurance, which covers damage caused by Fire, lightning, Earthquake, Explosion and Aircraft. 

This is a pretty basic cover and may not be appropriate for many people. 

Suppose you are legally responsible for insuring property in your care, such as when arranging insurance as an executor or insuring an empty property.

Or, when the owner is in care, you might be responsible for insuring the property via a power of attorney or deputy via the Court of Protection. In either scenario, be cautious with this level of cover.

If there is an uninsured loss, such as theft or a burst pipe, you could be liable for the loss as you could have arranged insurance for it.

Insuristic will provide this cover if it is appropriate for your needs and is our Bronze level of cover.

The challenge you will find online is that many cheaper insurance policies are on this basis.  But others might mix it up and include some (or all) cover for:

• Contents in the property.
• Theft.
• Malicious Damage.
• Impact by vehicles.
• Escape of Water, i.e. burst pipes.
• Flood.
• Subsidence.

The differing cover and excesses insurers charge in the event of a loss make it difficult for a non-insurance person to compare the cover on a like-for-like basis.

But it’s not just the cover level that varies; so do the unique requirements of each insurer to manage the risks an empty property faces.

Most people have never insured an empty property, so they may not be familiar with these requirements, which are often policy conditions.

Warning: Non-compliance with policy conditions can mean your claim is declined or reduced.

Here are some examples of common policy conditions to look out for:

• Property Inspections – Property inspections every seven days, often needing a written record (unless you are an Insuristic customer, as our inspections are far more generous and easy to comply with_
• Draining water systems because many providers don't include escape of water cover (the most common cause of loss for empty property)
  • If the insurance provides Escape of Water Cover, you will need to keep the heating on in the winter months if the water systems aren’t drained.
• Turning off utilities like gas and electricity to reduce fire risk (electricity may remain on for alarms/heating).
• Keeping the property well-maintained and tidy, including removing mail and maintaining the garden to avoid signalling vacancy.

In addition, most insurers want you to keep the property presentable with a lived-in appearance to minimise the risk of theft and break-ins, so they may contain the following conditions in the policy:

• Keeping the property well-maintained is usually a general condition of the policy. Insurers will require you to take all reasonable steps to prevent loss, damage, or an accident and keep the property in good repair.
• Removing Mail – a mail pile-up clearly indicates to burglars and squatters that the property is empty.
• Keeping the garden tidy – again, a tidy garden gives the appearance that the property is lived in, and helps to reduce the risk of theft and break-ins.

You will only know how good a policy is when you need to make a claim. 

Before you buy a policy, review the provider’s website to see how easy it is to make a claim.  Is the information easy to find?  Do they explain the process?  Would it be easy to do?

For example, if you look at the Insuristic website, every product page clearly explains how to make a claim. For example, check out our property claims page.

Because the cover varies so much, it’s hard to do.

When searching for an unoccupied home insurance comparison online, it’s easy to assume you’re seeing like-for-like quotes — but most aren’t. Key details like inspection requirements, water system conditions, or excluded risks often aren’t made clear upfront.

For instance, the Financial Ombudsman Service has handled cases where insurers rejected claims due to ambiguous ‘unoccupied’ clauses. Learn more about these cases here.

If all of this sounds like too much work, Insuristic can simplify the process. Our policies are designed specifically for empty properties

Here are some reasons to insure with Insuristic:

• Tailored Policies: designed specifically for insuring empty homes, with three levels of cover.
• Easy to understand: Our questions are relevant to your situation and clearly explained on our website and when you get a quote.
• Quick to buy: You can usually get a quote and buy a policy in less than two minutes.
• Flexible Cover Durations: You can buy short-term unoccupied home insurance (3, 6, or 9 months) or an annual policy. If you insure short-term, you will still receive a renewal notice.
• Inspections are easy to comply with, and you do not need to create a written report. On every visit, take one picture of the front of the house and one of a room inside the property with your mobile phone. Keep the photos to provide to our claims team if you need to make a claim.
• No Fees: We do not charge any fees to issue or cancel your policy.
• Early Cancellations: If you need to cancel the policy early, you will receive a pro-rata refund for any unused cover, provided you haven’t made a claim.
• Claims: In the event of a claim, our in-house claims team at SJL Insurance will provide advice and assistance at every stage of your claim, assist with loss adjusters and help you negotiate the best possible settlement with your insurer.

If you’re struggling to make sense of your unoccupied home insurance comparison, it might be time to ditch the guesswork. At Insuristic, we’ve done the heavy lifting with clearly defined cover levels, transparent conditions, and flexible durations.

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.