vacant house home and content insurance

samuelthomson240

my father died intestate in march 09. the house is worth 110-120000 . all of his contents are pretty worth less an isurer charged my 370 pounds for nine months and wants 286 pounds for another 6 months until the estate is finalised and the house sold. please tell me if anyone knows of a cheaper insurer for an unoccupied property in the west of scotland thanks john

Astaroth

Unfortunately you dont have much option other than phoning round brokers to see what they can do.

Unoccupied home insurance is very niche, therefore little competition between insurers to drive down prices.

BelindaArch

Here's a couple to start you off:

http://www.blackfriarsgroup.com/personalinsurance/unoccupiedhomeinsurance.htm

http://www.click4quote.com/home-insurance/unoccupied-home-insurance.htm

nomoneytoday

If there is nothing of value, is it worth having contents insurance?

lemonsoda

I'm having similar problems with a house I am an executor for. The current insurer will only do a renewal if it is put on the market within 30 days of probate being granted and won't do a new policy in my name as I am under 50. No one else wants to know really.

Cheapest independent quote I have had is in excess of £450 a year, the most expensive is £550. Seems lots won't do contents on their own either. This is so frustrating!

dacouch

What are you intending to do with the house? Sell it, rent it out etc etc

lemonsoda

Planning to sell it, but the 30 days is up already so that plan goes out of the window.

Just looking at holiday home insurance, can anyone see an issue with this? Seems like a lot of the bigger insurers provide it. The main problem for me seems to be that the house isn't my main residence but the holiday cover looks to be for homes that aren't a permanent residence. Could be a solution?

dacouch

Not unless you are genuinely going to use it as a Holiday Home.

lemonsoda

We will be, just can't afford to keep the house long term.

Got quoted £584 today for a 12 month policy that reduces cover after 30 days.Would go for second home insurance but I don't already have an insurance policy with the providers to get cover for a second home and I can't occupy the house as often as they require. Ho hum.

You're probably right though. Just going to have to swallow the cost and trek up there for an overnight stay every 30 days to keep the underwriters happy. Along with all the other conditions they place on it.