We’ve Upgraded Our Unoccupied Cover – JuLY 2026 

We’ve upgraded our unoccupied property cover to give our customers wider protection and clearer guidance on what to do while a property is empty. For customers who purchased a policy that will have a start date from 1^st July onwards, our standard unoccupied cover now includes cover for events like storm and theft, with optional Accidental Damage cover available. 

What’s changing? 

More events covered as standard: 

• Storm 
• Theft (including attempted theft) 
• Aerials and falling objects 
• Damage by emergency services 
• Frozen food 
• Frost 
• Pollutants 
• Smoke 
• Thermal expansion of glass 
• Weight of snow 

Optional extras you can add: 

• Accidental Damage to buildings  
• Accidental Damage to contents 

Looking for broader protection while your home is empty? 

You can ask us to consider an extended perils upgrade following an underwriting review. If approved, this can add higher‑risk events such as: 

• Subsidence 
• Landslip or heave (including damage caused by tree roots/vegetation) 
• Flood 
• Malicious damage 
• Collisions with vehicles or wild animals. 

These would be in addition to your standard cover. 

Important conditions and exclusions 

• 14‑day inspection requirement: You (or someone you nominate) must enter and check the home (and any outbuildings) at least once every 14 days and keep a dated record to provide in the event of needing to make a claim. This requirement does not apply to Fire, Lightning, Earthquake, Explosion or Aircraft (FLEEA) claims. 
• Escape of water and escape of oil: These remain excluded while the property is unoccupied. 
• Suspended sections: Personal possessions and specified items cover (Sections 5a, 5b and 5c of the policy booklet) remain suspended while the home is unoccupied. 
• Liability cover: Liability to the public (Section 4 of the policy booklet) and liability to domestic staff (Section 3 of the policy booklet) remain unchanged. 
• Theft cover limits for contents: Theft (including attempted theft) does not cover electronic gadgets, high‑risk items, bicycles or money.  

Still not covered under the standard unoccupied cover 

• Escape of water and escape of oil 
• Flood 
• Subsidence, landslip or heave, including damage caused by tree roots/vegetation 
• Malicious damage 
• Collisions with vehicles or wild animals 
  (Some of these may be available by underwriting referral via the extended perils upgrade). 

We spoke to our Head of Product, Gerry McNally, to discuss more about these changes. 
 

Why have we made this change?

We’re enhancing our cover, so it better reflects the real-world risks of an empty property, while keeping things clear and fair. Regular checks help stop damage from getting worse, and our fair, evidence led approach to claims focuses on whether an inspection would realistically have prevented or reduced the loss. 

How to meet the new 14‑day inspection requirement 

• Enter the home and outbuildings at least once every 14 days. 
• Check all rooms (and the loft, if safe) and, on the same visit, make an outside check from a safe place. 
• Provide your record if you make a claim. We may ask for reasonable supporting proof, for example: 
• Keep a dated record for each visit at the time or within 24 hours; keep the original. Your record should show: the date; confirmation that all rooms/loft were checked; confirmation an outside check (including outbuildings) took place; any issues found. 
• Time‑stamped interior photos (original files/metadata) 
• Smart lock or alarm entry logs 
• An email or message sent on the day confirming the visit/attaching photos 
• A note or invoice from a caretaker/contractor 
• Exterior‑only footage can support but does not replace entering the home and outbuildings. 
• If evidence of inspections isn’t available, we may reduce or reject the claim. We won’t do so where the breach didn’t cause or increase the loss or where access was unsafe or impossible and you inspected as soon as reasonably possible. 

Do I have to be the one inspecting the property?  

No. You can authorise someone else to do it for you, as long as they complete the checks and records properly. 

What happens if I miss an inspection?  

Tell us what happened and share your records. We’ll assess whether a missed or late inspection could reasonably have prevented or reduced the loss. Minor technical breaches without a causative impact should not be enforced. 

What about cover when you’re away from a property being renovated?

If you’re renovating and leave the property unattended for more than 72 hours, we now extend cover to approximate our new unoccupied standard cover (previously we defaulted to FLEEA only in this situation). 

Good to know 

• This page is a summary of the changes only. Full terms, conditions and exclusions are set out in your policy documents and any endorsements we apply to your policy. 
• If your circumstances change (for example: the property becomes occupied again), please tell us so we can update your cover. The unoccupied clauses will apply until you tell us the home is occupied again and we confirm their removal. 
• We only offer 12-month policies – if you cancel after the 14-day cooling-off period, the £50 Arrangement and Administration fee and any selected add-on premiums are non-refundable.. 

Please note: Product information is subject to change. For the latest information about what’s covered, visit our Unoccupied Insurance page.