Unoccupied Property Insurance

Online insurance for vacant homeInstant online empty property insurance quotes with the option to buy immediate cover. Choice of insurers depending on underwriting criteria and you have can insure both building and content on most vacant homes.

Cover 1

  • Unoccupied with Fire, Lightning, Earthquake, Explosion and Aircraft cover only. (Commonly known as ‘FLEEA policy’)

Cover 2

  • Unoccupied with Fire, Lightning, Earthquake, Explosion, Aircraft and Subsidence cover only

Cover 3

  • Unoccupied Full Cover
Empty home insurance

Protecting Vacant Homes

Landlords and home owners that own a building which is currently unoccupied must ensure that the correct type of home insurance policy is in place, protecting both the building and any contents within the premises. Most conventional house policies will only provide protection for an unoccupied building for a period of 30 days (check with your current provider as some policies allow up to 60 days of unoccupancy).  Some providers restrict the cover to a very basic level once the house becomes vacant. The basic level of cover is commonly known as FLEE cover within the property insurance industry. It is an acronym for, Fire, Lightning, Earthquake and Explosion.

Many brokers and underwriters have specialist unoccupied property insurance schemes where they are able to provide a wide range of options for clients looking to insure an unoccupied property. As well as providing the basic level of cover most specialist providers can also offer comprehensive policies that also cover perils such as theft, vandalism, storm damage etc.

An underwriter will assess each unoccupied home insurance risk on its own merits. Subject to the individual insurers underwriting criteria, a tailored policy quote is given to the prospective client. The client may be given a choice of different covers with varying premiums payable.

Short term empty house insurance

Empty House Insurance

Some people assume that because the property is vacant they do not need to insurer it. That is a completely false economy as a disaster can happen at any time. Premises that are unoccupied are probably even more at risk from vandalism and as such require an unoccupied house insurance cover.

The cost of an empty house insurance policy depends on a number of different underwriting factors. Some common factors that an underwriter will look at include;

  • Risk postcode: Address of the empty property to be insured
  • The sum insured: The amount of building and contents cover required
  • The length of time the househas been empty
  • Security measures: such as an alarm system, window locks, 5 lever mortice locks on external doors etc
  • Construction of the building: Any flat roof, thatched roof, listed building
  • Claims history.

The above are just a small number of risk factors that an unoccupied home insurance underwriter looks at.

Most vacant property insurance policies will contain some sort of endorsements and warranties that the policyholder must adhere to. Typical conditions are;

  • Premises must be inspected every 7 days by the policyholder or an authorised representative
  • All accessible windows must have key operated locks
  • All external doors must meet a certain type of secure lock such 5 lever mortice or double glazed
  • Water must be turned off at the mains and the system drained

Again the above are just examples, the policyholder must check with the empty house insurance provider for exact terms and conditions of the policy.

Many brokers have websites where clients can obtain quotes online in minutes from the comfort of their own homes or even from their place of work. Some systems will provide a comparison quote giving the client a choice of insurance providers and others only have access to one or two insurers. Some providers also provide short term unoccupied property insurance policies ranging from 3, 6, 9 or 12 month cover.

To obtain cheaper premiums the vacant property owner can install an alarm system if possible. Also installing window locks and insurer specified door locks will help reduce the overall price of the policy. Increasing the policy excess payable will also usually reduce the cost of the vacant home insurance but you do need to remember that in the event of a claim this will come out of your pocket.