Curing Your Empty Property Headaches

Unoccupied Property Insurance Through Coversure

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Unoccupied Property Insurance

Having an unoccupied property can be a headache. Between worrying about its security and finding an affordable unoccupied property insurance quote, having a house lying empty is a problem an owner can do without.

Now while we can’t magic you up a new tenant, find someone to house sit your home while you are away, push your inherited building through probate or get your builders to complete your renovations any faster, at Coversure we can find you affordable unoccupied property insurance for buildings in these circumstances.

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To see how much Coversure can save you on unoccupied property insurance, just complete this short form and your we will get back to you as soon as possible:

What Type of Properties can be Covered?

  • Landlords finding themselves without a tenant
  • People with second homes
  • Properties undergoing probate following a bereavement
  • Holiday homes
  • Properties under renovation
  • Homes left empty while their owners go on extended holidays or travel with work
  • One that is on the market awaiting either sale or completion where the owners have already moved out

What Types of Polices Are Available?

Like standard home insurance empty property protection comes with a range of options, including:

  • Buildings-only
  • Contents and buildings
  • Cover that lasts for 3, 6 or even 12 months

With Coversure’s unoccupied insurance, you can cancel the policy at any time should the building in question become occupied. This means you only have to pay for cover when you absolutely need it.

Who Needs Unoccupied Property Cover?

It may surprise you to know that if a building is left standing empty for any length of time – typically around 30 consecutive days or more – then your standard home or landlord insurance may no longer be valid.

The reasons for this are that when left vacant, the risks to a building from threats such as a fire, flood, burglary or storm damage rise significantly. Many insurance brokers struggle to offer comprehensive protection for properties such as these, but with Coversure’s unoccupied property cover you can get affordable, comprehensive protection that includes:

  • Storm cover
  • Tempest and flood cover
  • Escape of water and oil
  • Theft or attempted theft
  • Malicious damage
  • Accidental breakage of fixed glass
  • Double glazing cover
  • Subsidence
  • Owners' liability cover

Are There any Conditions to Unoccupied Property Policies?

Invariably there are conditions associated with these policies and common ones include:

  • What condition is it in? If it is not secure – e.g. with broken windows or missing doors – then they are unlikely to offer cover
  • Some insurers will insist on regular visits being made to the property – this doesn’t have to be made by the owner – sometimes that’s simply not practical – but so long as it can be accessed and inspected that will usually suffice
  • They will almost certainly want you to remove any valuables from it
  • If it’s vacant during the winter, they may ask that the heating’s left on reduce the risk of burst pipes or may agree to the system being drained.


How Much Does A Typical Policy Cost?

How long is a typical piece of string? How much you pay will depend on factors including:

  • The length of time your property will be unoccupied
  • Its value
  • Where it is
  • Its condition
  • The security of your property – those with burglar alarms, security lights, window locks etc. will attract lower premiums as they represent a lower risk
  • If it is at risk from flooding

Are There any Exclusions to Policies?

As with any cover there are some things that (typically) won’t be covered:

  • Loss or damage as a result of unforced entry e.g. when windows or doors are left open
  • Damage caused by major works, e.g. by the building of extensions/ structural repairs
  • Damage caused by contractors

How Can You Reduce the Risks to an Empty Property?

There are times when buildings have to be left empty, and while this can be a worry there are some simple steps you can take to reduce the risks of anything happening. Here are some easy to follow tips that can reduce the risk of something happening while you are away:

  • Keep the utilities on – when leaving somewhere empty for an extended period of time the natural thing to do is to turn off the heating and the water. In warmer months this is fine, but if it will be left during the cold, dark winter months then this could lead to burst pipes and flood damage. Having the electricity on also means you can leave a light on a timer and give the impression of occupancy, deterring potential burglars
  • Pay regular visits – a pile of post at a doorway, grass as high as the windowsills and curtains either permanently open or permanently closed are all invitations to break ins. If you can, pay a visit once a week or ask a neighbour to look in from time to time that’s going to reduce the risk
  • Secure the building – simple things like ensuring rear gates and sheds are locked, that you have good window locks and web-based CCTV or a burglar alarm will all add to your building’s security
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Why Choose Coversure? Over 97% Customer Satisfaction Score

With over 90 offices across the UK, great value protection is never too far away. With Coversure you get an award-winning combination of high-quality covers, supplied by some of the UK's largest insurers, and dedicated customer service supplied by a local, independent broker. With privileged access to insurers such as Aviva, Covea, RSA, with Coversure you can get the best from the best at a competitive premium. Little wonder then that over 97%* of our customers are either very satisfied or satisfied with our service.

*Ratings based on Coversure's 2016 Customer Survey.

Like Some More Help?

Coversure's offices have years of experience in providing great value property insurance. So why not get in touch with your local Coversure office today. They will be more than happy to assist you with finding the cover you need for an affordable premium.



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