At a glance
Standard home insurance won’t cover you if your house is left empty for a long period.
You may need to arrange extra cover if your home is unoccupied for more than 30 or 60 days, depending on your provider.
You may be able to extend your cover with your home insurance provider, or you could choose a specialist unoccupied house insurance policy.
Compare the Market doesn’t compare unoccupied house insurance, but we can help you search for a great deal on your home insurance.
What is unoccupied home insurance?
Unoccupied home insurance covers your property if you need to leave it vacant for longer than your standard home insurance policy allows.
You’ll normally need to arrange unoccupied house insurance if your home will be empty for more than 30-60 days. Policies vary, so check your terms and conditions.
Typically, you can find unoccupied home insurance cover for three, six, nine or up to 12 months, and you can often extend the cover if needed.
What’s the difference between home insurance and unoccupied home insurance?
Most standard home insurance policies – which can be made up of buildings insurance and contents insurance – only protect an empty property for a short time. Unoccupied home insurance extends that cover for longer periods.
Unoccupied home insurance isn’t usually included with standard home insurance because there’s an increased risk associated with nobody being at the property.
For example, there may be a greater chance of it being broken into or even squatters moving in. And if there’s a leak and no one’s there to notice and fix it, for example, the damage could be far worse than if someone was living in the property all the time.
If you leave your home empty for a longer period than is set out in your policy and fail to tell your insurance provider, you could invalidate your home insurance. This means that if you need to make a claim, your insurance provider may refuse to pay it.
When do I need unoccupied house insurance?
You might need cover for an empty property if:
You’re taking a sabbatical to travel the world, or to work or volunteer abroad for a while
You’re heading off on an extended holiday
You’ve recently bought a new house but you’re not ready to move in yet
You’ve moved in with a partner but haven’t yet sold or rented your old home
You have a second home or holiday home that you only use part of the year
You’ve inherited a property, but haven’t decided what to do with it yet or you’re waiting for probate
You’re selling a property and you’ve already moved into your new home
You need long-term residential health care
You’re moving out while renovation work is underway.
If you’re a landlord and your property is going to be empty for a while between tenants, read our guide to unoccupied property insurance for landlords.
What does unoccupied house insurance cover?
What’s typically covered?
Damage caused by fire and smoke, flooding, storms, vandalism, water or oil (from burst pipes), and an impact (from a car or a falling object)
Theft or attempted theft
Legal expenses cover – if, for example, someone starts squatting in your home while you’re away and you need to start legal proceedings to have them removed
Public liability cover – if, for example, a tree falls from your property and damages your neighbour’s roof.
What’s typically not covered?
Burglary through unforced entry – if you leave a door or window unlocked and your home is burgled
Renovations or building works – if you’re doing structural work on the property, damage isn’t normally covered. You might want to consider a specialist building works or renovation policy
Builders and contractors – if you hire a contractor, they should have their own insurance in place
Damage caused by poor maintenance – keeping your property in a good state of repair can reduce the likelihood of needing to claim.
Make sure you understand the policy details before you buy. For example, you may need someone to check on your property while it’s empty, perhaps once every 14 days, as a condition of your policy.
How much is unoccupied home insurance?
Insuring an empty house tends to cost more than regular home insurance because there’s an increased risk associated with nobody being at the property.
Here are some factors that could affect the cost of your unoccupied home insurance:
The property’s value – the more expensive the property, the more it will cost to repair or rebuild
Your cover level – the more cover you have, the higher your premium
The cover period – the longer you leave your property vacant, the higher your quote is likely to be
The location – if your property is in a high-crime area or one prone to flooding, it’s more likely you’ll have to make a claim
Your claims history – if you’ve had several problems with damage caused by leaking pipes over the years, for example, it suggests you’re more likely to claim again.
How can I get a lower premium on my unoccupied property?
Here are some steps you can take to help lower your premium for insuring an unoccupied property:
Pay upfront
It’s typically cheaper to pay your premium in one go. While paying monthly can help spread the cost, you’ll likely be charged interest on the instalments.
Consider a higher voluntary excess
Agreeing to pay a higher voluntary excess claim can reduce your premium. Just make sure you can afford to pay both the voluntary and compulsory excess if you need to make a claim.
Don’t over or underinsure
Make sure you’re insured for the right amount. Check your rebuild costs are accurate and estimate the value of any contents correctly, particularly if you’re removing valuables while you’re away.
Add extra security
Improving security on an unoccupied property could help deter burglars, making you less of a risk to insurance providers and potentially reducing the cost of your insurance.
Shop around
Comparing quotes could help you find the most competitive deal. But make sure any policy offers the cover you need. The cheapest deal isn’t always the best choice.
Sorry, Compare the Market doesn't compare unoccupied home insurance.
FAQs
How long can a house be unoccupied for?
Standard home insurance usually allows for a property to be unoccupied for 30 days. But all policies are different, with some offering cover for up to 60 days, so read your policy details to be sure.
Unoccupied home insurance policies are more flexible, so you could arrange cover for three months, six months, nine months or a year, depending on how long you plan to be away or how long the property takes to be sold, for example.
I’m a landlord and my property is unoccupied between tenants. Do I need unoccupied home insurance?
It depends on your policy and how long the property is going to be empty. You may need to get extra cover if your rental property is going to be empty for more than 30, 60 or sometimes 90 days.
If you’re between tenants or want to carry out renovations, check your policy to find out how long your property can be left empty. If it’s likely to be vacant for longer than allowed, then you’ll need unoccupied property insurance to make sure you’re covered.
What if my second home is unoccupied for more than 30 days?
If you have a second home that’s unoccupied for long periods, you’ll need to arrange unoccupied house insurance.
But if your second home is unoccupied for less than 30 days at a time, most standard home insurance policies allow for this. Some policies even cover an unoccupied home for up to 60 days.
What’s the difference between a vacant property and an unoccupied property?
If a property is unoccupied, it means no one is living there but their property and furnishings are in the property.
If a property is vacant, no one lives in the property and it will be empty of contents.
Can I insure an empty property if it’s for sale?
Yes, if you’re selling an empty or unoccupied property, and you won’t be living there for a longer period than your home insurance allows, then unoccupied home insurance can offer cover.
You may be able to add unoccupied home insurance cover to your existing home insurance policy, so check with your insurance provider.
What’s required by regular inspections for my unoccupied home?
It depends on the policy. Some insurance providers may not require inspections at all. Others might require the person inspecting the property to fill out a report and/or take photographic evidence regularly.
Check the policy carefully before you buy so you know exactly what you’ll be expected to do.
Looking for something else?
As well as writing for Churchill and Privilege insurance websites, Karen’s CV includes working with M&S, Debenhams, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and John Lewis. With over 20 years of editorial experience for big household names she leads a talented content team with a focus on simplifying personal finance for everybody.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Helen’s our resident home insurance expert, as the former Head of Home Insurance at Compare the Market. She's also experienced with car insurance and pet insurance from her previous roles across commercial, partnerships and as a freelance consultant, working with more than 100 insurers across a variety of insurance products.
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