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Whether you’re on holiday or planning to sell, here’s how to cover your home when it’s unoccupied
Unoccupied home insurance covers you when your home is empty for longer than your standard policy will allow. You only normally get cover if your home is empty for up to 60 days – and if anything happens outside this period you won’t be covered.
When your home is empty for an extended period, the chances of theft go up. An unoccupied home also carries a higher risk of structural damage – for example, if a pipe bursts and there’s no-one there to handle repairs, the effects could be even more damaging.
If you're currently stuck elsewhere and your home is unoccupied due to the coronavirus lockdown, don't panic. Check out our home insurance and coronavirus guide page to see how your home insurance might be affected.
If you’re taking out unoccupied home insurance, you should find a policy that covers:
Insurance policies can vary between providers, so they won’t all provide the same levels of cover. Read the policy documents carefully before buying.
Your home insurance provider might not pay out for a claim for the following reasons:
There are many reasons why a home may be temporarily unoccupied. For example, your property may be empty if:
Data collected by MoneySuperMarket from March 2019 to March 2020, accurate as of April 2020
The cost of insurance for unoccupied homes can vary between providers and policies, but the average price of cover for homes that are empty for 31 to 45 consecutive days is £146, according to data from MoneySuperMarket. The exact cost for insuring your unoccupied home could be higher or lower because insurers consider things like:
While standard home insurance generally comes in year-long terms, unoccupied homes don’t always stay empty for 12 months. This is why insurers usually offer unoccupied home insurance in policies lasting for three, six, nine or 12 months.
If you think you’ll be away for longer, or if your absence is sudden, you’ll normally be able to extend your policy as well. For example, if you’re stuck abroad on holiday and flights are grounded, or if your house sale is taking longer than originally planned.
You risk invalidating your home insurance policy if you need to make a claim and you fail to tell your provider that your home is unoccupied for longer than the time set out in your policy details.
You should check if your insurer has any specific terms about how to make a claim – for example, if you need to contact them instantly or if you need to file a police report.
There are also some things you should consider before claiming:
If you’re going away and you know your home will be empty, comparing unoccupied home insurance can help you find the right policy for you – so you’re insured for the right amount of time for all the things you need cover for.
You can browse different quotes from a variety of insurers with MoneySuperMarket and compare them by their price, the quality of cover, the excess they need, and the feedback each policy has received from customers.
All you’ll need to do is enter a few details about your home and its occupants, your area, and the details about your trip away. You’ll then be able to search through different deals so you can find the policy that best matches your needs.
You should also keep in mind that the cheapest deal isn’t always the best – you’ll be better off looking for unoccupied home insurance that ticks every box you require, including the time you’re away and the things you want cover for. It’s important to check the policy documents carefully before confirming your choice, so you know the specifics about what’s included.
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