Unoccupied Property Insurance for Landlords
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- Underwritten by AXA Insurance.
- Any length of unoccupancy*.
- Average quote time is only 10 minutes.
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 the majority of 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 ! Signed, sealed, delivered.
*Subject to terms and conditions.
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What’s covered by UNOCCUPIED HOME insurance?
Unoccupied home insurance cover varies depending on whether the property is empty on a short term of long term basis.
Short term unoccupancy
If the property is usually occupied but is left unoccupied for between 31 and 180 days, then you typically get all the cover of our standard policy terms, but with exception of certain exclusions, see what is and isn’t covered below:
What’s included?
Quick home emergency response times
Have a home emergency, such as electricity failure, faulty locks or vermin infestation? With the 24/7 Home Emergency cover, which we provide as standard, you can typically get an engineer at your home within four hours. And if you’re worried about an uncontrollable leak in your home, we aim to have an emergency plumber to you within two hours.
Extreme weather conditions may extend response time. Policy terms and claim limits apply.
5 star rated buildings cover
Our building insurance has been given the highest rating by independent financial research companies, Defaqto and Moneyfacts.
Repair guarantee
Any buildings work we undertake is guaranteed for 24 months following a claim and any contents repair work we undertake is guaranteed for 12 months.
New for old
Where we replace an item, we will do our best to meet the original specification on a ‘new for old’ basis. If we can’t find an exact replacement, we’ll offer you a suitable alternative, or a full cash settlement.
Legal advice
We provide Legal Protection cover as standard, giving you access to telephone legal advice on any personal legal issue, under the laws of the UK, any European Union country, the Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Switzerland and Norway.
What isn’t included?
Escape of water incidents during the period: 1 October – 1 April (inclusive).
Theft incidents, unless all security features (e.g. locks and alarms) included in your property are maintained in good working order and in full operation.
Claims involving money and high risk items (e.g. jewellery).
Damage cause gradually, or by wear and tear, or by failure to fix a known issue.
Faulty design or poor workmanship.
Damage caused by pets.
The cost of repairing or replacing items following a mechanical or electrical fault.
Lost items.
Long term unoccupancy
If the property is not usually occupied, or is left unoccupied for more than 180 days, there are two levels of cover. Basic cover is available online. Extended cover is available over the phone, via referral to our underwriting team. The following table compares what sort of insured events are covered:
| Insured loss | Basic cover (available online) | Extended cover (call for quote) |
|---|---|---|
| Fire, Lightning, Earthquake, Explosion, Aircraft or other flying devices (FLEEA) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Liability to the public | ✔ | ✔ |
| Escape of Water or oil | ✖ | ✖ |
| Accidental damage | ✖ | ✖ |
| Storm or flood | ✖ | ✔ |
| Subsidence or tree roots | ✖ | ✔ |
| Theft (including attempted theft) | ✖ | ✔ |
| Malicious damage | ✖ | ✔ |
| Collisions with wild animals or vehicles | ✖ | ✔ |
| Aerials & falling objects | ✖ | ✔ |
| Damage by emergency services | ✖ | ✔ |
Looking for more cover? Give us a call on 0330 660 1000 to talk to our team about extended cover.
UNOCCUPIED HOME Insurance Cover Levels
The following cover levels apply for both short and long-term unoccupancy:
Buildings cover
Covers the main structure of your home if you need to rebuild or repair it.
up to £1 million
(eligibility criteria applies)
Contents cover
Covering the value of all your possessions in the home, on a new for old basis.
from £25,000
Home emergency
Covers emergencies that occur in your home like uncontrollable water leaks, electricity failure, faulty locks and vermin infestation. Two levels of cover are available.
up to £500
Family legal protection
Provides a 24/7 legal advice helpline and up to £25,000 cover for claims involving contract disputes and property damage. For a claim to be successful, there must be reasonable prospects (more than a 50% chance) of winning the legal case. Two levels of cover are available.
up to £25,000
Outbuildings cover
Covers rebuild or repair of your outbuildings (such as detached garages, greenhouses, sheds and summerhouses).
from £20,000
Liability cover
Liability cover involving accidental death, bodily injury or illness or property damage that you are legally liable to pay.
up to £5 million
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