Home insurance for long holidays?

Paradise_Found

After saving/planning for the past ten years, my wife and I
are in the extremely fortunate position of being able to spend
long periods of time (up to 90 days) travelling round the USA
as an alternative to emigrating there, which is next to impossible!

Thanks to this site, finding Annual Travel Insurance which covers
trips up to 90 days to the USA was surprising easy, but looking
through our home insurance policy (Direct Line) this afternoon
revealed that cover is void if our house is "unoccupied for sixty
consecutive days"

So because of our stupidity, we effectively didn't have any
valid home insurance during much of 2008!!


Can anyone advise our best course of action to obtain suitable
home insurance coverage in future without paying through the nose?

For example, if a family member stayed the night at our house
during our absence, would the house no longer be "unoccupied
for sixty consecutive days", or is it not as easy as that?


MARK

tomhelenscott

Does anyone know the answer - we are in a similar position ?

Paradise_Found

tomhelenscott wrote: »

Does anyone know the answer - we are in a similar position ?

I'm amazed that the (normally fantastically knowledgable) regulars
on this board seem to be unable to provide any advice in this situation...

For what its worth, we rang round a few insurers and the only one
who could help was Lloyds TSB, but they wanted:

1. proof(how?) that someone was checking the house once a week

2. all utilities to be shut off and 'approved' locks to be fitted

3. a premium 3x what we are paying now for the same £££ cover!

All seems a bit exteme when our existing insurance covers
up to 60 days absence without any of the above stipulations...

Why is the risk so much greater for a house which is
unoccupied for (say) 62 days compared to 59????! :rolleyes:


As it is, we have had to go away and leave the house uninsured,
which my wife is not happy about...


MARK
(Orlando)

mum2one

This may sound daft, but is there anyone who can stay in your house even if its for a long weekend, to cover the "absence period", so that the house is not unoccupied for a 60day+ period.

Paradise_Found

mum2one wrote: »

This may sound daft, but is there anyone who can stay in your house even if its for a long weekend, to cover the "absence period", so that the house is not unoccupied for a 60day+ period.

Thanks for the suggestion.

We actually thought about doing that, but (according to the Direct Line rep),
the only way to 'reset' the 60 period is for the actual policyholder (i.e. me!)
to stay overnight in the property...

I tried to find out why, at the (seemingly arbitary) figure of 60 days,
the "risk" of burgalry/other problems suddenly becomes so high that they
won't insure the property at any premium, but the rep couldn't explain!! :rolleyes:


MARK

slh4283

I work for an insurance broker, however deal with commercial rather than personal insurances, however a couple of places which may be worth a look for unoccupied properties are:
http://www.towergatehousehold.co.uk/products/unoccupied-homes-insurance.aspx
http://www.camberfordlaw.com/insurances

Unfortunately it is generally seen that if a property is unoccupied then in theory it is at a higher risk for vandalism, theft etc. Unfortunately it is generally due to the claims experience and statistics the insurers have access to that they usually give a limit of 30, 60, or perhaps 90 days in some cases.

In relation to commercial insurances the way to get round this is as previously mentioned, ensure adequate security, turn off services (generally to avoid any escape of water or someone having fun with the mains!) etc. Also if you are willing to accept limited cover (for example reducing to restricted perils/events like fire, aircraft, explosion) you can sometime arrange cover, however household insurers do not have as much flexibility as commercial ones. In addition you are generally dealing with call centre staff rather than the underwriters themselves.

Hope this helps a little.

longlongjon

Hi May I ask whether you eventually found an insurer who would provide house insurance for 90 days absence?
Rgds
Jon

dacouch

Try Saga..