Unoccupied property insurance may be a way in which you can insure your property during periods when it is no longer occupied. This particular type of insurance may be not only valuable to landlords and property agents, it can be also helpful and reassuring to know you will be covered for your own property if you tend to spend long periods away from home.

If your property is unoccupied for periods of 30 consecutive days or more, then you may need to investigate unoccupied property insurance.

Situations where you could find yourself in need of empty property cover may include where:

  • you have a house in probate;
  • you may be going through a separation, which has left your house empty;
  • your work takes you away from your property for long periods of time;
  • you may be a landlord of a property, who on occasions sees the property without tenants for 30 days or more;
  • your house is on the property market, and until completion, the house is currently empty.

Unoccupied property insurance may not only be a tool for landlords it may also be helpful for anyone who is away from the property for long periods of time. As often is the case, people who already have house insurance, may assume that the property is covered for any problems whilst it is unoccupied.

Many insurance companies are obliging in covering properties which are unoccupied for less than 30 days; a family holiday for instance is often accepted. However, if your property is empty for longer periods you may need to take out extra cover. It is very important to note that unoccupied property insurance is not typically included in a landlord’s policy, nor traditional owner-occupier home buildings and contents insurance, so you may need to purchase separate insurance to cover periods of in occupancy.

The level of cover which is provided with unoccupied property insurance, as with all insurance policies, depends on your requirements. As with all insurance policy’s reading the documents thoroughly prior to taking out cover may be recommended to ensure that you have the correct and adequate cover to suit your personal circumstances.