Unoccupied insurance for Landlords

EMPTY HOUSE INSURANCE: SHORT TERM SOLUTIONS FOR LANDLORDS

As a residential landlord, you’re probably well aware that standard off-the-shelf house insurance does not properly protect you or your property. Instead, you need a home insurance policy that includes cover for loss of rent, alternative accommodation for tenants, and liability for accidents and so on. But did you know that you also need to declare when you are between tenants as it could affect your cover?

PREPARING YOUR EMPTY HOUSE FOR NEW TENANTS

It’s not uncommon for a house to be empty between tenants. You need to run through the inventory when a tenant leaves, so of course you will want to make sure that any necessary repairs or renovations are carried out before letting a new tenancy. You need to advertise, interview and be available for viewings. You might even be renting your UK home if you live abroad, and it can take more time to work with agencies to find and agree a new letting in situations like this.

The issue is that a property which is left empty for more than 30 days is classed as unoccupied by many insurance providers, as your existing landlord insurance policy may not be suitable to cover you as usual.

UNOCCUPIED PROPERTY INSURANCE FOR BETWEEN TENANTS

If you have been able to find a new tenant in less than 30 days, then there is usually no need to alert your home insurance provider. However, if you know that the property will be unoccupied in the longer term, perhaps while you redecorate, then it’s a good idea to contact your insurer to let them know that the property is now empty.

This is also the opportune time to check for maintenance and security issues. In fact, cover for unoccupied let properties can be dependent on taking steps to preserve a lived-in appearance. This could mean simply keeping the driveway tidy, collecting post and monitoring the heating in the winter to prevent frozen pipes.

Many insurance providers have limitations when it comes to covering unoccupied let properties because of the number of risks involved. That’s not the case with us. We can offer you an online quote for unoccupied let property insurance, no matter how long it might be vacant. Our unoccupied home insurance policy is one of the most flexible in the market.

Best of all, if you’re an existing customer, you can let us know when the new tenancy agreement is signed and we’ll switch your unoccupied cover back to your landlord insurance policy in minutes!

*Subject to terms and conditions.

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).  

UNOCCUPIED HOME Insurance Cover Levels

The following cover levels apply for both short and long-term unoccupancy: