Insure your empty house when working overseas
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LOOK AFTER YOUR UNOCCUPIED HOUSE WHEN YOU ARE WORKING OVERSEAS
One of the biggest decisions you need to make when moving abroad for work is whether to rent your house out, or to leave it empty until you return.
While the obvious benefit to renting your property is the added income, this can also be a massive undertaking to manage. Do you really want to become a landlord?
The alternative is to leave the building empty. This can be the best decision if you want to be able to return home from abroad, if you prefer to keep a foot on the UK property ladder, and it means that you also have the option to lease the house as an additional source of income.
Empty houses, while they can be an asset, can also be a risk. You can take steps to protect your house by having someone look after it while you are away, but the first line of defence should be vacant home insurance.
Empty properties are exposed to several risks, including burglary, vandalism and arson. An insurance policy that is specially tailored to unoccupied houses will help you to recoup your losses in the event of a claim.
You may well find that some insurers are reluctant to provide cover for an unoccupied property, however, we are able to provide an easy online quote regardless of the length of time that your property will remain empty.
It is no issue for us to work with expat UK homeowners, and our policy for vacant property insurance is very flexible, allowing you to change your level of cover as and when you need to.
*Subject to terms and conditions.
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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).
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
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.
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.
Your Questions Answered
Yes, to insure the house with Homeprotect you’ll need to demonstrate that you have an ‘insurable interest’ in the property – for example you are the executor of the will. When you purchase the probate home insurance policy if probate has not yet been granted, the policy is issued in the late owner’s name, with the executor as a joint policy holder.
There are no regulations around how long a homeowner can leave their property unoccupied. However, when it comes to purchasing vacant property insurance with Homeprotect, your home must have been unoccupied for more than 30 days.
If you’re planning to leave your home empty for an extended period, there are a few safety and security considerations. Firstly, after 30 days unoccupied, most home insurance policies are void – so, the homeowner would need an empty home insurance policy to protect against theft or damage. Many empty home insurance policies will also expect the home to be inspected regularly, water and electricity to be switched off and more. If your property is unoccupied visit our unoccupied home insurance page for details on inspection requirements for Homeprotect unoccupied policies.
Additional considerations include installing a home security system and using smart devices such as leak detection technology.
If you own the freehold, yes. If you live in a leasehold flat, the freeholder usually arranges buildings cover, but check your lease to be certain.
Yes, Homeprotect is pleased to offer unoccupied home insurance policies for long periods. If your holiday home will be left vacant during the off-season or between guests for more than 30 days, we can still offer cover. Please read more about our unoccupied home insurance to understand what restrictions apply.
Empty properties carry greater risks in terms of burglary, vandalism or even squatting, and also the amount of damage caused by unnoticed issues like burst pipes.
Homeprotect needs to know if your property is unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days or more so that they can factor these increased risks into your policy terms.
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