Unoccupied House Insurance
- Underwritten by AXA Insurance.
- 24/7 Home Emergency line.
- Probate, holiday homes, empty houses, vacant on extended holiday, and empty between tenants all covered.
- Average quote time is only 10 minutes.
More information
What is unoccupied house insurance?
Unoccupied home insurance is designed to protect a property that’s left empty for longer than your standard home insurance policy allows.
Your property is considered unoccupied if:
- It is noted as unoccupied in your Policy Document, or
- It is not Furnished, or
- It is noted as occupied but has not been lived in for more than 30 consecutive days.
By ‘lived in’ we mean that you or your guests regularly sleep there overnight and carry out day-to-day activities such as cooking and bathing in the property.
If your property will be empty for more than 30 consecutive days, unoccupied home insurance is likely to be required - especially if you want to remain protected against serious risks like fire.
You may need unoccupied home insurance if you’re:
– A landlord and you’re between tenants
– Leaving a property empty while you’re waiting for it to sell
– Managing a property during probate
– The owner of a second home or holiday home you don’t usually live in
– Travelling for a long time (e.g. a sabbatical or extended holiday )
– Receiving long-term treatment away from home
We offer specialist unoccupied home insurance designed for exactly these situations. This page has everything you need to know, including the restrictions that apply, so you can decide if it’s right for you.
Yes, you can insure an unoccupied house with Homeprotect, as we are a specialist unoccupied house insurance provider. Simply get a quote online.
You can get a quote online, whether your property is temporarily or long-term empty. If you’d like to discuss extended cover (Unoccupied Plus), please call our Underwriting team on the phone number shown in our cover table below.
The cost depends on several factors, including:
– The property’s location and rebuild value
– Its current condition and level of maintenance
– What property security measures are in place
–The type of unoccupied cover you qualify for
You can get a quote for unoccupied home insurance today.
Why it’s essential to let your home insurer know if your property is empty
Leaving your property unoccupied leads to additional risks, and it’s essential that you let your home insurer know if your property will be left empty for more than 30 days. When buying, renewing or updating a Homeprotect home insurance policy, you must tell us:
- How the property is used (e.g. main home, second home, holiday home, holiday let)
- How long it will be left unoccupied
If your Statement of Fact shows 30 days’ unoccupancy but it’s left longer without telling us, your claim settlement could be reduced due to non-disclosure.
If you’ve declared longer unoccupancy (e.g. 31-180 days or more), restrictions still apply – including the inspection requirement.
Properties that are unoccupied can be higher risk, so we require policyholders to regularly inspect their property. Find out more about what’s needed in the inspection requirements section below.
Unoccupied House Insurance Reviews
Get a home insurance quote online
Get a quote online in less than 10 minutes*
What’s covered by UNOCCUPIED HOME insurance?
Your coverage depends on the nature of the unoccupancy. There are three levels of cover depending on your specific circumstances.
Temporarily Unoccupied – this cover is for properties that are usually occupied, but then become unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days – for example, while you’re away on an extended holiday or receiving treatment away from home.
Unoccupied – this cover is for properties that are empty long-term or indefinitely – for example, a property inherited through probate, one awaiting sale after a long vacancy, or a rental property between tenants for an extended period. This cover includes more restrictions than Temporarily Unoccupied cover, but there is an option to call us and upgrade to Unoccupied Plus.
Unoccupied Plus – this is optional enhanced cover for unoccupied properties that will cover your property for additional issues such as flood or malicious damage. It’s available by calling and speaking to our expert underwriting team, who may be able to upgrade your coverage.
The table below shows what is and isn’t covered for our different types of Unoccupied Home Insurance policies (subject to inspection requirements) :
Call us on 0330 660 1000 to find out if Unoccupied Plus is available for your property.
| Temporarily Unoccupied (usually occupied, empty for more than 30 days) | Unoccupied (noted as unoccupied, or empty more than 180 days) | Unoccupied Plus (cover upgrades for Unoccupied)
| |
| CORE COVER | |||
| Fire, lightning, earthquake, explosion, aircraft (FLEEA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Storm, frost, weight of snow | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Smoke, pollutants | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Aerials and falling objects | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Damage by emergency services | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Thermal expansion of glass | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Frozen food | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Liability to domestic staff and the public | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| WATER AND OIL COVER | |||
| Escape of water (burst pipes, boilers, tanks) | ✓ Included 2 Apr to 30 Sep ✗ Excluded 1 Oct – 1 Apr | ✗ Excluded year-round | ✗ Excluded year-round |
| Escape of oil | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| THEFT COVER* | |||
| Theft (general) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Theft of electronic gadgets, high risk items, bikes, money | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| ADDITIONAL COVER | |||
| Flood | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Subsidence, landslip or heave | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tree roots and other vegetation | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Malicious damage | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Collision with vehicles or wild animals | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| OPTIONAL COVER | |||
| Accidental damage, including damage to underground services (where selected) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Personal possessions and specified items (where selected) | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
*What’s excluded from theft cover
Even where theft is covered, the following items are not covered under Unoccupied or Unoccupied Plus policies for theft:
- Electronic gadgets (e.g. laptops, tablets, mobile phones)
- High risk items (e.g. jewellery, watches, works of art)
- Bikes
- Money
What’s suspended entirely
The following sections of your policy are suspended while the property is unoccupied under Unoccupied or Unoccupied Plus cover, regardless of the cause of any loss:
- Personal possessions
- Specified items
Unoccupied Plus – extended cover via our Underwriting team
If you need broader protection, our Unoccupied Plus cover may be available, subject to underwriting referral. This extends cover to include:
- Flood
- Subsidence, landslip or heave
- Malicious damage
- Collision with vehicles or wild animals
The 14-day inspection requirement still applies, and escape of water and escape of oil remain excluded under Unoccupied Plus.
Call us on 0330 660 1000 to find out if Unoccupied Plus is available for your property.
Important: inspection requirements
If your property is Temporarily Unoccupied, the restrictions below apply. If you inspect at least every 30 days and keep a record, the property won’t be treated as unoccupied – and these restrictions won’t apply:
| Restriction | Detail |
| Escape of water (burst pipes) | Not covered between 1 October and 1 April |
| Theft | Only covered if all security features listed on your policy are maintained and in good working order |
| Jewellery and watches | Only covered if kept in a locked safe (with keys removed) while the property is unoccupied |
If your property is Unoccupied or Unoccupied Plus, you (or someone you authorise) must inspect the property at least every 14 days. Each visit must be recorded at the time or within 24 hours. The record must show:
- The date of the visit
- Confirmation that an internal check of all rooms (and the loft, if safe to access) took place
- Confirmation that an external check of the property and outbuildings took place on the same visit
- Any issues found
- Keep the original record and provide it if you make a claim.
If we ask for additional evidence to support your record, examples of what we may request include:
- Timestamped interior photos
- Smart lock or alarm entry logs
- An email or message sent on the day confirming the visit
- A note or invoice from a caretaker or contractor
If an inspection wasn’t possible because access was unsafe or impossible, we will take that into account - and we won’t reduce or reject a claim where the failure to inspect did not cause or contribute to the loss.
Exception: Proof of 14-day inspections will not apply to claims caused by fire, lightning, earthquake, explosion or aircraft (FLEEA).
Yes, in most cases. How often depends on your situation:
If your property is empty long-term or indefinitely (Unoccupied or Unoccupied Plus cover), you or someone you authorise must inspect at least every 14 days and keep a dated record of each visit. This is a claims condition - see the inspection requirements section above for what each visit must include and what counts as an acceptable record.
If your property is usually occupied but temporarily empty (Temporarily Unoccupied cover), inspecting at least every 30 days prevents certain cover restrictions from applying - in particular, the October–April exclusion on escape of water.
In both cases, the inspection requirement does not apply to claims caused by fire, lightning, earthquake, explosion or aircraft.
Further details on the inspection criteria can be found in the ‘Inspection Requirements’ section on this page.
If access was unsafe or impossible, we will take that into account. We will not reduce or reject a claim where the failure to inspect did not cause or contribute to the loss. The inspection requirement does not apply at all to claims caused by fire, lightning, earthquake, explosion or aircraft.
Homeowners and landlords must be aware of the additional expectations on them when leaving a property unoccupied. Most empty home insurance providers will still require certain conditions to be met with the property, even if it’s not being lived in.
Insurers will not pay for loss or damage caused by your failure to safeguard your property at all times, so you must take precautions to minimise the risks.
This could include, but is not limited to, locking all external doors and windows, and turning off all sources of electricity, fuel and water.
UNOCCUPIED HOME Insurance Cover Levels
The following cover levels apply for both short and long-term unoccupancy:
unoccupied covers levels with homeprotect
Buildings Cover
Up to £1 million (more cover available if needed)
Protects the main structure of your home, including attached garages and conservatories, and permanent outdoor features such as patios, driveways and boundary walls.
Contents cover
from £25,000
Protects your household contents — including furniture, clothing, appliances, gadgets and valuables — against insured events. Cover is provided on a new for old basis.
Home emergency
up to £500
Covers sudden, unexpected emergencies — like an uncontrollable leak — that require immediate action to prevent damage or make your home secure. Two levels of cover are available, for different types of insured loss.
Liability cover
up to £5 million
Covers your legal liability for accidental death, injury or illness to someone else, or damage to their property.
Outbuildings cover
from £20,000
Covers detached garages, greenhouses, sheds, summerhouses and other outbuildings within your boundary or any communal area you’re legally responsible for.
Family legal protection
up to £25,000
Covers legal costs for certain insured events. There must be a reasonable chance of success, and the incident must happen during your policy term. Two levels of cover are available, for different types of insured loss.
Important: this is a 12-month policy
We only offer 12-month policies. There is no cancellation fee, but if you cancel after the 14-day cooling-off period you will not receive a full refund of your premium. The following are included in your quoted price but are non-refundable:
- The £50 Arrangement and Administration fee
- Your optional Home Emergency add-on (if selected)
- Your optional Legal Expenses add-on (if selected)
- Your optional Key Protection add-on (if selected)
If you think you may not need cover for the full 12 months, please consider this carefully before purchasing. For example, if you are selling the property or expect it to become occupied again soon, a 12-month commitment may not be the right fit.
We only offer 12-month policies, whether your property is unoccupied for the short or long term. We don’t offer short-term or monthly unoccupied policies
No, we only offer 12-month policies. If you cancel after the 14-day cooling-off period, the £50 Arrangement and Administration fee and any add-on premiums (Home Emergency, Legal Expenses, Key Protection) are non-refundable.
Recommended by our customers
74% Saved money when they switched to Homeprotect*
*Survey data of 1,281 buying customers from 4th November to 2nd December 2025
Escape of Water in Unoccupied Properties
Escape of water (burst pipes and leaks from domestic pipes, boilers, tanks and appliances) is one of the most common causes of serious damage to empty properties. Here’s how cover works:
- Unoccupied and Unoccupied Plus: escape of water is excluded year-round, regardless of the time of year.
- Temporarily Unoccupied: escape of water is excluded between 1 October and 1 April if the unoccupied definition is met. If you inspect the property at least every 30 days and keep a record, the property won’t be treated as unoccupied - and the October-April exclusion won’t apply.
We’d strongly recommend taking these precautions if your property will be empty over winter:
- Set your central heating to a low background temperature
- Or turn off the water supply at the mains and drain the system completely
- Look for signs of damp or water damage on each inspection visit
For more information, read our Guide to Winter Home Protection
Burst pipes are categorised as ‘Escape of Water’ – see the table above and inspection requirements for the full details of coverage. If your property is Temporarily Unoccupied and inspected every 30 days this will generally be covered outside the 1 October to 1 April exclusion period, but at all other times of year and for all other types of unoccupancy escape of water is excluded. We strongly recommend draining your water system or keeping the heating on low if the property will be empty over winter.
If the property is normally occupied but left empty for 31-180 consecutive days, you’re typically covered, except between 1 October and 1 April inclusive, where escape of water incidents are excluded.
If the property is completely unoccupied and unfurnished, or it’s furnished but unoccupied for more than 180 consecutive days a year, you’re not covered for water damage.
Always check your policy schedule for any ‘endorsements’ (special terms) as these could restrict or exclude cover.
What our expert says…
“Unoccupied properties face higher risks because issues like leaks or electrical faults can go unnoticed, and they’re more exposed to fire, vandalism, and weather damage.
Homeprotect insures over 30,000 unoccupied properties, offering specialist cover for homes that are temporarily or long-term empty with different levels of cover available depending on the length of unoccupancy. Speak to our Underwriting team for details.
Our standard Unoccupied cover includes storm, theft, smoke, and a range of other insured losses – not just fire and lightning. The main exclusions are Escape of water and Escape of oil, which remain excluded year-round. Insured losses like flood and malicious damage are available under our Unoccupied Plus cover, subject to underwriting referral.
We also require regular property inspections – at least every 14 days for Unoccupied properties. This helps identify problems early and, for most claim types, is a condition we’ll consider when assessing any claim.
To help protect your property, turn off water at the mains and secure all entry points. When it becomes occupied again, just let us know — we’ll update your cover.”
Home Insurance Expert
Empty homes face greater risks because:
– Leaks, faults and fire hazards can go unnoticed
– There’s no one there to respond or limit damage
– They’re more vulnerable to vandalism, theft or weather-related damage
– That’s why cover is more limited — and why regular inspections are so important.
You can read more about why unoccupied homes are riskier in our guide.
If it’s empty for 31 to 180 days, your cover is largely standard but with exclusions – see the table above for Temporarily Unoccupied. Beyond 180 days, long-term unoccupied rules apply.
Yes, we cover any duration – but cover restrictions apply – see details above in the main body of this page.
A ‘FLEEA’ policy is a home insurance policy that simply covers against Fire, Lightning, Explosions, Earthquakes and Aircraft or flying objects, compared with a more comprehensive range of risks.
Yes. Electronic gadgets, high risk items, bicycles and money remain excluded under the contents sections while the home meets the criteria for the Unoccupied or Unoccupied Plus cover levels. These exclusions do not apply for properties which meet the criteria for Temporarily Unoccupied policies.
Not if your property is noted as unoccupied on your policy. These sections are suspended entirely while the property is unoccupied.
Yes. You can add accidental damage cover to buildings (including damage to underground services) and/or contents as optional extras.
To make a claim with unoccupied home insurance, you will need to:
– Have your Policy Document to hand
– Have proof of ownership and a valuation (e.g. receipts or bank statements)
– Provide proof of loss along with a full description of what happened
– When you’re ready, log in to submit your claim online or call our claims hotline.
Let us know and we’ll update your policy. A £25 amendment fee applies.
Need help or want to discuss extended cover?
Call our team on 0330 660 1000 or chat with us online. Lines are open 9am–8pm Monday to Friday and 9am–1pm on Saturdays.
New Customer?
If you’re deciding on whether to buy home insurance with us, you can use our latest policy booklets as a guide.
Existing Customer?
Find answers to some of your questions here. Your latest policy documents are also available to view and download.
You might also be interested in…
Your Questions Answered
Because the cover, conditions and some exclusions are different when a home is unoccupied. We’ll apply the relevant unoccupied endorsement(s) and explain what you need to do. Not telling us may invalidate your policy and could lead to a claim being declined.
Yes you can insure a property that’ s up for sale — if it’s been left empty for more than 30 days, you’ll need unoccupied cover.
Yes, if the property is empty for more than 30 days, we can arrange landlord cover with unoccupied protection.
Prefer to SPEAK WITH us?
Our insurance experts are on hand if you have any questions.